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I am new here and find this place exciting, interesting, and also puzzling. If you would indulge me on the latter:
For those of you/us who already have opinions on many subjects coming in, has anything you've read here ever changed you mind about anything? Has another poster ever told you that you genuinely changed theirs? Have you seen someone post to anyone else that they changed their mind because of something someone said? If the answer to any/all if these is "no", do you think it's because of the tone of many of the comments, even if they might contain some good information?
If you never do change your mind here and if you can't change anyone else's what is the purpose of your coming back again and again, and continuing to contribute? Just wanting to see what others think? Giving high fives to like-minded people? Venting on people with opposite views to your own? Just like to stir the public pot? Other?
I love this place, even though it can tick me off sometimes, because it really is the mythical "national conversation" that media figures and politicians always talk about us needing to have. On the other hand...I hate this place, even though it gives me hope sometimes, because apparently the "national conversation" is often just people snarking at and talking over each other with no empathy or desire for finding common ground.
Do what thoughts do you have on these debates, here and your reasons for being part/party to them?
I would say that once in a while my thinking is shifted, but never fully changed. People post links that are either opinion or agenda based facts and stats that can be manipulated or simply lied about (see the federal government). And sometimes stats may be unarguable but improperly applied...
Yes. I have changed my mind since coming here but only a few specific posters are able to accomplish that. I truly trust their judgment. Others just get me thinking.
Yes. I have changed my mind since coming here but only a few specific posters are able to accomplish that. I truly trust their judgment. Others just get me thinking.
Just out of curiosity, who are they? Won't blame you for keeping it to yourself. It's just hard to sort out who is who as a newbie, with such a glut of opinions. I'm not looking for people to change my views or to follow blindly, but it would be interesting to know who you think is credible. I've read good posts from opposing viewpoints, but some of those same people have said some outlandish things, too.
There are smart people here from all stripes. Very interesting to be here.
For the most part, NO, nothing that I have read here has really changed my core beliefs. If anything, it has just reinforced to me how polarized our society has/is become/becoming. I have gleaned a few tidbits of information on certain non-political, non hot topic items that I have checked out with other sources. But I do not come in here nearly as much as I once did. Now it is just occasionally and when I do post, I post and leave it for what it is. I don't go back and get into a p*****g contest with another poster(s) because for one, this forum, like other online ventures, is just a cyber pseudo-world, nothing more. Another thing I don't do is look at the history of a poster's posts. Too many people take this place too seriously. It is nothing more than occasional bored entertainment for me.
Yup. There have been several times I've changed my mind after reading posts here.
And there have been many more posts I agreed with, even when my views are much different from the original poster's.
It didn't take me long as a newbie to distinguish between those who are here just to pick a fight and those who honestly and intelligently present their opinions and leave them for others to discuss. Since there are a lot of people who are active here, and many more who only read, such things are to be expected.
Not all the forum topics are decisive, either. I've found lots of folks shy away from the topics that generate the most disputes, and there's a ton of interesting stuff and good information here.
yes there have been times i have changed my mind about things, and i have also learned a lot as well. at the same time i hope i have changed a few minds, and taught people something. boards like these should be about give and take teaching and learning, and not partisan politics that gets down and dirty with name calling and other insults. people dont learn that way, and they dont teach that way either.
I am new here and find this place exciting, interesting, and also puzzling. If you would indulge me on the latter:
For those of you/us who already have opinions on many subjects coming in, has anything you've read here ever changed you mind about anything? Has another poster ever told you that you genuinely changed theirs? Have you seen someone post to anyone else that they changed their mind because of something someone said? If the answer to any/all if these is "no", do you think it's because of the tone of many of the comments, even if they might contain some good information?
If you never do change your mind here and if you can't change anyone else's what is the purpose of your coming back again and again, and continuing to contribute? Just wanting to see what others think? Giving high fives to like-minded people? Venting on people with opposite views to your own? Just like to stir the public pot? Other?
I love this place, even though it can tick me off sometimes, because it really is the mythical "national conversation" that media figures and politicians always talk about us needing to have. On the other hand...I hate this place, even though it gives me hope sometimes, because apparently the "national conversation" is often just people snarking at and talking over each other with no empathy or desire for finding common ground.
Do what thoughts do you have on these debates, here and your reasons for being part/party to them?
Yes, because of posts made on this forum, I have changed my mind on two issues. It's not to say it was just the words of the posters in question, it was after I read something here, and then searched out more information on my own. The majority of the time, however, all I read is a bunch of the same tired talking points that some members get from their favorite website and then regurgitate it here as if they cleverly came up with it. The talking points are never clever, and are old and tired by the time they show up here.
My reason for being part of them is a) in some cases, with SOME posters, I do learn a few things, rarely, but I do and b) when surrounded by idiots, or, worse, people who don't even care about politics or things going on in the world, it's nice to be around like minded people...if even only to know I'm not the only one who thinks the world is going to hell in a handbasket.
I am new here and find this place exciting, interesting, and also puzzling. If you would indulge me on the latter:
For those of you/us who already have opinions on many subjects coming in, has anything you've read here ever changed you mind about anything? Has another poster ever told you that you genuinely changed theirs? Have you seen someone post to anyone else that they changed their mind because of something someone said? If the answer to any/all if these is "no", do you think it's because of the tone of many of the comments, even if they might contain some good information?
Yes. Seeing the liberals here with their unending lies and demonization caused me to become right wing. At one time I was actually happy that Obama got elected. At one time I thought Obamacare was a good idea.
Discussions about welfare caused me to research the subject. Nothing that was said here formed my opinions about welfare, but what was said here did cause me to look into the subject and through looking into it I changed my opinions about it.
And also, debates on this forum caused me to look seriously at the constitution. I hadn't ever read any of the Federalist Papers before joining this forum and knew nothing about James Madison. I have now read up on it extensively and am glad I did. I have a much greater understanding of how the constitution is supposed to work than I ever had before.
Quote:
If you never do change your mind here and if you can't change anyone else's what is the purpose of your coming back again and again, and continuing to contribute? Just wanting to see what others think? Giving high fives to like-minded people? Venting on people with opposite views to your own? Just like to stir the public pot? Other?
Venting on people is why I keep coming back. I like throwing leftist rhetoric back in their faces.
Quote:
I love this place, even though it can tick me off sometimes, because it really is the mythical "national conversation" that media figures and politicians always talk about us needing to have. On the other hand...I hate this place, even though it gives me hope sometimes, because apparently the "national conversation" is often just people snarking at and talking over each other with no empathy or desire for finding common ground.
That's the way politics has been going since the progressives took over the Democrats.
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