User blog comment:ForestFairy/How to resolve conflict/@comment-26515877-20150823160856

Let me start by saying how much I appreciate your article, Forest. I personally believe that,all too often, Admins tend to become myopic when it comes to conflict resolution and because of this want to pidgin hole every conflict into some kind of "Fast Food" version of resolution.

Additionally, I want to applaud your response and subsequent willingness to revise your statement concerning, "...conflict is positive..." statement. Not because I personally thought it needed revision, but rather due to your williness to 'walk the walk' of your article in how you responded to and resolved that minor conflict (of opinions).

I have lived my life guided by a handful of 'wise sayings' that were passed on to me from various sources...my father, close friends whom I greatly respect, leaders of a cult I unwittingly spent time in, etc...and one of those sayings simply states, "change equals growth and growth is always good."

To me, I have alway see conflict as a catalyst for change. In and of itself, conflict serves no beneficial purpose, but when seen in this light, it can indeed be a positive thing.

However, change is also often painful for one party or the other, so it is not a stretch to see why people want to avoid conflict. Resolving conflict wisely required effort. It requires us to question why we believe what we believe and to be willing to see if there are 'better' beliefs/choices/deductions/answers/ than our original ones.

Of course all of this hinges on the predication that each party in the conflict has such a willingness. If one side or the other is closed to seeing any other point if view other than their own, then their closed mindedness will render resolution nearly impossible and it is at this point an Admin will likely have to become the 'Hammer' that nails the thesis to the door, so to speak.

Anyway, all that to say, loved the article.

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