Several years ago, a musical based on The Jerry Springer Show was aired on British television. At the start, there was a disclaimer that the musical was chock full of obscenities and after every advert the disclaimer was repeated. Still, lorry loads of complaints were called in.

I’ve always been gobsmacked by people that seek out things which they know will be infuriating. Do people enjoy being cheesed off? Do they enjoy complaining? Do they not have enough strife in their lives?

If you know you’re going to be ticked, then you really have no reason to complain. It’s not being forced on you. It’s like going to a restaurant you hate and then griping about how bad the food is. Well, no kidding, Socrates.

I avoid things, places and people I know are only going to make me mad (in both senses of the word). Who needs the stress? The eighth Satanic rule of the Earth is: Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.

I also believe one shouldn’t complain about things over which they have no control, either. Whinging won’t change anything and the best course of action is to choose to react in the most productive way.

The conundrum is then, when is one avoiding something which will only serve to aggravate and when is one closing oneself off to other viewpoints?

The difference is that one person is saying, ‘I’ve examined my beliefs and they are right for me and do not wish to be irritated,’ whilst the other is saying, ‘My beliefs are right so I don’t need to listen to anyone else’s opinion.’

Though I am willing to listen to the views of others, if their opinion diverges from mine so drastically I become irritated I examine the root of that. If I feel that my views are legitimate to my philosophy (e.g. I’m not being a hypocrite or illogical) I find no reason to continue with that vein of conversation. If that person’s views make sense to me I’m open to altering my opinions, as I believe everyone can learn and grow within their own philosophy, myself included.

It’s useful to examine one’s own philosophy by comparing and contrasting it to the beliefs of others, but I know myself well enough to recognise the line.