It’s finally time for me to leave N.C. State, so my stay as a columnist with Technician has come to an end. No doubt, many of you are breathing sighs of relief. Disagreement and discourse are viewed as profoundly negative in our society, and anyone who raises controversial issues and viewpoints is considered callous, intentionally insensitive or as a plain old jerk — such is the cross of an honest columnist. I hope that if anything is taken away from my columns that it be the following point: disagreement is a good thing and should never be taken personally.

I’ll be the first to admit that on certain occasions, my tolerance for civil discourse can be low. However, all of us need to increase our ability to dispassionately assess and exchange arguments. Today, more than ever, is a time characterized by sharp division and an outright refusal to consider other views. It’s as if people are so proud that they do not want to consider the likely fact that they are, in some way, wrong.

But what do we have to fear about being wrong? Being proved wrong is a great, lucky thing if you have the right attitude. What it means is not that you are stupid, or that you should be ashamed; what it means is that you are fortunate enough to have been brought into a better understanding of the world.

So, then, why are we so defensive of our positions? Furthermore, why are we angry when they don’t fare well in discourse?

Ironically enough, our Puritan nation has a pride issue on its hands. The bad part is that this pride stands in the way of intellectual advancement. For many people, being perceived as wrong or fallible is worse than actually being wrong.

My charge to you all is the following: entertain criticism with an open mind, with utmost concern for veracity. We all are wrong about certain things, even things of which we are certain. However, above all, we should be concerned with the truth of our views and beliefs.

Disagreement reveals at least one certainty — at least one of the speakers must be incorrect. In this light, the speakers should work together toward the truth in a spirit of cooperative competition.

So remember that, NCSU. Search for the truth and scrutinize everything, even your own views. With the right attitude, you’ll always come away from disagreements a better person.

E-mail Mike your thoughts at [email protected].