Has anything posted here ever changed your mind about anything?
 

I'm curious - especailly for you guys who contribute to the political discussions (ahem) -

Has anything posted here on Off Topic ever changed your mind about a substantive issue?

Has anything caused you to become curious enough about an issue that you researched it and changed your views?

I voted for all three--because I could.

No one has changed my opinion on anything, but I have had some of the premises of my arguments invalidated (and confirmed, for that matter).

Yes actually but not lately. I remember having some pretty good discussion with Sup, Todd, and others a while back that opened my eyes some. Lately though most of the lefties have gone off the deep end making real discussion impossible so I haven't really tried lately. I thought some on my side got a little crazy during the Clinton years, but not even close to the left today. It is seriously blinding hatred IMHO making dialog impossible. I guess it's to be expected as the reality of the left being out of power is "sinking in". Again just my opinion.

What Len said, and also, some take this WAY too seriously, (going off the deep end) and take a very literal intrepetation of what's said and judge others accordingly. This no different than email, you don't know the whole message, you don't see who's typing it and what their real intentions are, so the message is skewed.

It becomes black and white when you write it out. I have Liberal friends, gay friends, etc. Just because I have a view like this doesn't mean i hate the opposite side, nor does it mean I can't understand. However, between all the accusations, you'd think that was the case. I'm certain it's the same for everyone else.

Until a confirmed dopehead, no job, felon, liberal poster appears in O/T, as far as I'm concerned all the players here are pretty decent, Lib or not.

rjp

You'd have to have a mind in order for anyone to change it.

I lost mine when I bought my first 911.

Yes. When someone says "Thank You'" I say "You're Welcome," instead of "No Problem." Thanks Supe.

Not really, I'm pretty firm in my beliefs. As thick-headed as I am, it really takes alot to make me change my mind on things that I'm dead set on. So far nobody on here has been able to do that.

As far as the Leftys go, I agree with Randy, while I dont agree with them I think most are pretty cool guys(and girl, C.C.;) ).

Actually someone did change my mind about a coffee maker!:D

Substantial issue? No. Have I had some of my views tempered by rational explanations representing an opposite perspective? Definitely yes. That's why I read debate threads - except when the author is one of two particular members - I like to have my views challenged. It keeps me flexible and therefore more willing to change my mind in the future.

From the other perspective, I try to respectfully articulate my points not because I think I'll change someone's mind, but because I hope that learning the opposite viewpoint will keep them from falling off the deep end.

I collect antique spoons and have a pet cockroach now.

You know what has happened to me? OT radicalized me, at least to some extent. I'm pretty middle of the road, but the cumulative effect of reading the far right, and often hateful posts and reprints (Coulter, NewsMax, etc.) has pushed me further left than I ever thought I'd be. Just to distance myself as much as possible I guess.

The prodigious use of “liberal” as a slander word, the vicious attacks mounted against the president’s critics, and the narrow mindedness that I have seen from a fairly good chunk of the “right” crowd downright scares me.

So I guess you could say that debate has changed my mind. It made me realize that the waters on the right were dangerous, so I steered left :)

And off the deep end:)

yup, a few times and I'll be dambed if I will change it a third time!

Humor me as I go off the deep end.

Why invest yourself with beliefs instead of opinions? Beliefs are difficult to change and revise as they tend to symbolize the essence of who you are. People usually don't refute beliefs because they're typically integral to one's character.

The concepts of honesty and integrity are widely held personal beliefs, taught from a young age from like-minded parents, mentors, role-models and personal experience. Religion, women's role in society and equal justice for all are some of many that fall into that category. So are thoughts on entitlement, greed and descrimination or any number of topics. The challenge is to decide what eventually goes into that belief compartment in your psyche. Why restrain yourself into accepting a piece of data (whatever it is) as a belief when that data may turn out to be false or negative? It's harder to deny the falsity if you have taken it to heart.

People tend to seek facts that support one's beliefs. It's either reassuring or self-affirmative as opposed to seeking new answers to old questions. This thought process is more comforting to most people. It's human nature. However, it's usually easier to revise a position if it's merely an opinion w/o the burden of one's belief system in conflict. On the other hand, beliefs result in less contradictions in the face of varying and conflicting information - I believe, therefore, it is so.

There are down sides. Changing an opinion takes some work and can produce disappointment - that's life, but you move on having learned more. Changing a long-held belief can result in personal turmoil, but can release negative burdens taught, experienced or absorbed in formative years. It can also result in personal growth as a human being. The old adage comes to mind: "The more you know, the less you know." This is frightening to some and realistic to others.

If possible, I suggest choosing or examining ones beliefs wisely and carefully less they limit one's ability to think and act rationally and objectively. Something to "think" about, unfortunately more difficult to accomplish.

We all have baggage,
Sherwood

I don't know Sherwood; I think with proper introspection and an open mind, a personal belief can and maybe should be changed from time to time.

Take for instance my sons belief in Santa. Now this is fun right now and will be for the next few years but if he carries this belief on into his twenties wez gots a problem.

He is also of the opinion that he should get a toy every time we go into the store or I come back from a trip. I have done everything to contribute to this opinion and to that end he is and will experience turmoil due to the fact that he ain't gitt'n squat till after Christmas.

Beliefs and opinions should change but only for a balanced view on the world. The more I read and the more people I meet, it seems as though the ones that are the truly honest and righteous are balanced in there opinions and beliefs, not governed by mores and folkways but rather by consideration and contemplation.

I want my kids to be like that and I guess I want to be that type of person as well. Convictions should be kept for empirical absolutism.

I haven't had my mind changed on "issues," but a "fact" I thought I knew about a Vietnam-related discussion was well and thoroughly trounced on a couple of links I followed.

It's great when you find something like that and can drop old baggage.

Unfortunatlely, most of the new issue discussion points seem to come from the looniest sources on the right and left, and it's hard to find where the truth really lies.

Some of the postings here (more often 'pastings' here) are so transparently wrong that a 10-second Google search reveals it. But it's pretty rare, it seems, for some people to independently verify the stuff they like before they toss it on OT, which is kinda sad, really.

Not really. You will notice a pile of cow crap in the middle of the pare pretty quickly but you would over look the grass and weeds that provide color and texture due to omnipotence.

There are plenty of original thinkers here and even a fair share of modern philosophers. I can only think of a handful of folks who post or reply with an agenda...

Someone once posted in OT, "It's not easy being green." Guess what: it's not...

Along the lines of what the lubinator said, I come here for mental gymnastics. I think we have a pretty wise/knowledgeable group here, certainly more so than the people I see daily in gravity world. So for me it has always been about entertainment/education.

I think we have a crop of "newish" posters that come in well below that previous standard and prevent real discussion so I've just been going with the flow and getting in my digs purely for laughs. This way I'm still entertained:)

It will swing back to real discussions I imagine, but either way it's always fun.

well......lets see, it's sort of fun reading posts from people dead set on telling others how or what to think, & in the process exhibiting their complete lack of cognition. Funny how some grab the flag in one hand & the Bible in the other then proceed to tell everyone else what they can & can't /should or shouldn't do...so UN-American !!!

me??? I keep it simple. I look to the Constitution for what I can & can't do. I find it ironic that the very people harping they are "good American's" are so inclined to take freedoms AWAY from others.
Constitution sez I have the right to own guns...I damn well own guns ! & anyone else can too !!!
Constitution sez "equal protection", then, by golly gays can get married if they want. You don't like it ? don't marry one of 'um !
Constitution sez seperation of church & state...that means keep your personal religious beliefs OUT of the legislature, public schools, courts !
Constitution protects FREEDOM for everyone, especially that weird SOB that you are convinced is going to tear up the very fabric of American Culture...Catholics...Abolishonists...micks...Jews ...oakies...flappers...beatnicks...hippies...fags. ..liberals...neocons...There is ALWAYS going to be someone that you don't understand or that frightens you...that's the price & responsibility of true freedom...everyone doesn't have to be the same !

I get a headache when I think so I stopped a long time ago. Life is so much simpler this way...

Joe A