Has any debate on OT changed your mind?
 

Just curious. I'm an old curmudgeon at the tender age of 36 and most of the opposing views here solidify my own. Anyone have a different experience?

I think I believe in God now. :)

Best,

Kurt

I've learned some better arguments. I've learned some fallacies in my own beliefs. I've learned that some people prefer to argue what they think you are saying rather than reading what you actually said.

I thought Rodeo was pretty bright when he first got on here.

I thought Higgins was pretty smart before he started going on about suspension dynamics. :p :D

Ive learned that there are WAY too many people here who care WAY too much about politics.

That's dynernamerics, bucko.

Aside from politics and religion, there is a lot to be learned here. Seek first to understand and you will find many among us are wise, often in ways we are not. If you have an open mind, it can be expanded.

:D My bad.

my thinking has been shifted a number of times on a number of topics. It has also reinforced some things I already believed.

Everyone has something to offer. No one is useless...you can always serve as a bad example.

Re: Has any debate on OT changed your mind?
 

Yes.

Ha ha! This goes for a few others as well.

snowman has made me more understanding of gays and people with IQs over 150 or more. I also have a renewed commitment to build an underground bomb shelter. Thanks snowy!

Why, thank you!

you're welcome. But I'm still not taking that free Yosemite vacation...

While I can't think of an actual change of direction, I enjoy the mental gymnastics of being challenged. It sometimes reinforces my thoughts, sometimes makes me figure out why I believe a certain way, and makes me succinctly communicate ideas, so that others may understand quickly.

Changing positions on a topic in a flip-flop way indicates a lack of independant thought (as does continuing to yell the same things over and over). Some weak-minded people simply agree with whoever they talked to last.

An intelligent person's thoughts usually evolve. Core values rarely change, but when approched with an open mind, many topics are grounds for proper discussion, and an evolution towards clear thinking.

Of course, some people are so open-minded, their brain leaked out.

I learned some new words along the way...
:rolleyes:

Ya know, I was just thinkin' aboot that. I could meet you near Big Bear, but it's gotta be soon. My fiscal year ends July 31 and I need to wrap up loose ends by then.

oh, so now I'm just a loose end to you. *sigh*

I thought Tabs's thread on Hitler's invasion of Russia was a bit of an eye opener.

I felt that way about Racerbvd's thread on "Meditation, Sensitivity Training, Random Acts of Kindness and Getting in Touch With Your Inner Child"

I used to be a capitalist pig, but after reading OT, I love unions and think gov't can solve every problem, if only we doubled taxes.

Wait...never mind. I want to change my answer to "no."

I think this sums it up well. I've had my mind changed on a few issues, so I'd say yes, more than once. (Though probably less than 3 times)

I've learned most folks are good at leaving OT in OT, that is, people who "hate" each other here will still help each other out in the tech forums.

I've learned that there really is a huge divide in political thinking between Canadians and Americans, at least insofar as PPOT represents those groups, and I do realize it doesn't represent them well. Still interesting, though.

Re: Has any debate on OT changed your mind?
 

hanging around here is like dialing in either a Walt Disney or a Warner Bro's cartoon.

I've learned plenty and crystalised my political viewpoints by the process of debate; you know, "thrust and parry", "play possum", etc... :D

Some are going to hate me for saying this, but the member who has influenced me the most was fastpat with his extreme Libertarian views. I thought that he was 100% consistent in that, but like commies I know he was not able or willing to "walk the walk" in the real world of modern USA. I always had a Libertarian streak, but now I am the anti-liberal railing against the nanny-state. It is among my strongest beliefs.

I still believe in justice and equality, but don't believe that government should manage people's lives. They are by definition corrupt and antipathetic to people's needs, they need to be choked down to size and only sensible laws enacted or enforced. I also agree w/ him about staying out of other countries' affairs, but not to the degree that he advocated.

Not with him on the whole Confederate thing or rooting for insurgents in Iraq, however. He was right about the U.S. govt. not being America, and vice-versa, IMO. :cool:

fastpat was stimulating and honest.

+1, even if we didn't see eye to eye.

And in a world, far, far away from ours at times...

Course the same might be said about a lot of us at times ! :)

I haven't been too involved with this OT, but based on another Porsche forum's OT...

For the most part, most of the debates haven't changed my mind on things. There have been a couple minor issues here and there, but those are the exceptions and not the rule.

What has happened more often is that I learn from civil debates (sorry, but when someone is ranting like a child or something, I just tune them out and don't take what they say seriously). Even if I don't agree with the other side, I have found that it helps keep me open-minded to the other side of the argument. It's good to see those shades of gray since we are not in a black and white world.

And that last part is probably the most important thing I get from debates... There have been times in the past where I would come down really hard on something, but now I'll realize where the other side is coming from, and perhaps even though I don't agree with the stance it's not nearly as unreasonable as I first thought it was. Such attitudes also carry through in the rest of my life, remembering that maybe there is a legitimate, rational reason for why that person is doing something that seems to me to be asinine.

BB.

"My mother's calling", wait, "I'll put it on speakerphone".

Changing peoples minds ... you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink.

I also should mention FastPat. He's probably the only one here who's really made me think about Lincoln and Civil War stuff. While he budged my views on Lincoln, I still believe the polar opposite of his views on Israel. He and I already agreed on everything about guns.

I grew a new fondness for lesbians and cameltoe

Not sure if i've changed my position on much but i have certainly found myself giving much more careful thought to certain ideas. The God thread is particularly thought provoking for me.

The confederate flag thread was also interesting and, although it did not change my feelings about that flag it DID prove to me that there are folks who truly see it as something other than a tool of racism.

I was going to cite the same two discussions.

Christien is right about the political divide between Americans & Canadians... I've certainly notice it. Having said that, I've also become more comfortable with the idea that really, really good people hold views that are contary to mine.

I've come to terms with it... It's OK for them to be wrong;)

Yep, I've found that those that deserve traffic tickets the most complain the loudest when caught!!!!!!!!!

My opinions haven't changed but I'm more open to other's perspectives and opinions now. I've learned quite a bit and I'm amazed that every subject can have such differing opinions. You guys are great!

I like OT cuz it teaches me to be the person others want me to be.

rjp:p

I agree with the rest of the people in this thread.

is 'fondness' Texas slang for 'woodie'?