When someone believes in something passionately, they naturally expect that others will share with them similar, if not identical, beliefs. The advent of global travel and Internet communications, however, has caused many more encounters with persons whose beliefs are fundamentally different than our own. It is easy to forget that we live in a world made ever smaller by globalization, and we find ourselves inadvertently preaching and persuading another to agree with our own viewpoints without always realizing why their perspectives and beliefs may differ from our own. Of course, when people forget the audience with whom they are talking, disagreements are inevitable.
It is not uncommon for conversation to escalate into an argument when two individuals strongly disagree on a certain viewpoint. If the speaker forgets his audience, s/he may find themselves trying to persuade an individual away from a belief they are already passionate about in another manner. This can lead to very heated arguments and ultimately leave someone agitated. Disagreements over ideas have divided the world, as during the cold war's ideological juxtaposition of democracy and communism. The inability for leaders to engage and persuade each other has unfortunately even resulted in armed conflict.
Information dissemination has become increasingly easier in a world that is rapidly globalizing and utilizing technology as a cornerstone of daily communication. This change has been quickly adopted while etiquette has not fully caught up. In the fast-paced, widely connected world we now live in, people must be mindful of the fact that their audience may have vastly different views and cultural upbringings than their own and must adjust the way they express their own views as to not offend those they communicate with.
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