When someone who is accomplished and respected says things I disagree with, the response I try to have is not to respect him less, but to reconsider my own view

When someone who is accomplished and respected says things I disagree with, the response I try to have is not to respect him less, but to reconsider my own viewpoint. Perhaps their opinion is from experience I don't have yet, or from a perspective I don't share. In this particular case, I actually disagree with him about var/val- I think they're a great step forward. But that said, I value his differing opinion on the matter, and try hard to really see his point as to why he disagrees. Perhaps in time I'll realize he was right, or perhaps in time he'll realize he was wrong. Or maybe it will be like putting final on every variable declaration- my teammate and I will never see eye to eye on it (so much extra noise for so little gain, imho).