Question for all you debaters

[JanieDough]

Occasionally you may learn something and change a stance when debating political strategy, policy or historical fact, etc.

However, certain issues are what I guess you could call more of a moral issue - gay rights, abortion, etc.


I understand why conservative people feel the need to preach their message, but I don't understand why more open minded people even attempt to reason with them. I can understand open minded people making a statement of "You're wrong," and then leaving the thread, but what good is it to argue a point for 20+ pages when the OP is clearly so close minded or ignorant that he's incapable of accepting something like gay rights - which is why he made the thread in the first place.

Not aimed at anyone - I've just lost my taste for debate and I don't understand it. What's the use??? Besides getting all riled up and letting everyone know where you stand? Do yall actually think you will change some one's mind?

 

[Zorak]

internet is serious business.

 

[HK]

It's fun.

That's why I enjoy debate anyway. Why do schools have debate clubs? Not just so kids can hone their skills - it's also a kind of enjoyment, to try and match wits with someone. I think the vast majority of us know perfectly well that you go into any discussion online unlikely to change anyone's mind, but it sharpens your communication skills and, as far as I'm concerned, a bit of fun.

Some people get very serious about it. While there are subjects I feel passionately about and would defend, it doesn't make me angry to see people disagreeing. Other people take it very personally.

 

[Siphorous]

It can be interesting. It can help you to understand someone else's point of view better. The matching of wits is a good point too.

I don't debate much because personal attacks become somewhat trite. Seemingly, the last refuge of the witless.

 

[Niamh]

It can be interesting. It can help you to understand someone else's point of view better. The matching of wits is a good point too.

I don't debate much because personal attacks become somewhat trite. Seemingly, the last refuge of the witless.

On your last point, I agree 100%, I enjoy debating and also reading others points but it's so unnecessary to get personal or insulting with people just because they don't share your opinion.

Also, agree with HKs post

 

[Kyle B]

What's the use??? Besides getting all riled up and letting everyone know where you stand?

I think that is the use lol.

Besides, even if you did change someone's view, they probably wouldn't admit it anyway.

EDIT: I think the Republican Judgment thread illustrates this point lol.

 

[alice in chains]

The argument for the sake of wit is a fucking joke. It's useful to cover of the lack of any credible point and I would love to make it illegal if I could.

I personally like to convince people away from their stupidity, of course, if it's a case of personal preference instead of an actual point to prove then there's no room for a debate.

 

[Tim]

It's not so much the person you are debating with, it's those who are not involved who are following along.

You are right the the chances of ever changing someones mind is very slim. But what about those who do not have a foot in the battle? They will read both sides of the debate and it may help them come to an informed opinion on the matter. I know I have gained great incite through debate over the years, and I wasn't involved in many of them.

 

[alice in chains]

It's not so much the person you are debating with, it's those who are not involved who are following along.

You are right the the chances of ever changing someones mind is very slim. But what about those who do not have a foot in the battle? They will read both sides of the debate and it may help them come to an informed opinion on the matter. I know I have gained great incite through debate over the years, and I wasn't involved in many of them.

that's very true.

 

[JanieDough]

I agree to a point, but I still say there are certain topics like abortion that the only way you will ever know how you really feel about it is if you're faced with a decision like that.

 

[Accountable]

It's not so much the person you are debating with, it's those who are not involved who are following along.

You are right the the chances of ever changing someones mind is very slim. But what about those who do not have a foot in the battle? They will read both sides of the debate and it may help them come to an informed opinion on the matter. I know I have gained great incite through debate over the years, and I wasn't involved in many of them.

 

[Peter Parka]

It shows a lot of peoples true colours and true level of intelligence.

 

[BornReady]

Tim is right. I have learned from debates. I've also changed my mind on things. I used to think homosexuality was a perversion caused by too much promiscuous sex. It was debaters who convinced me my position was one of ignorance. But it wasn't a single debate that changed my mind. It happened over a period of a couple months.

 

[AnitaBeer]

Debating is always more fun with a beer in hand! IJS

 

[JanieDough]

Tim is right. I have learned from debates. I've also changed my mind on things. I used to think homosexuality was a perversion caused by too much promiscuous sex. It was debaters who convinced me my position was one of ignorance. But it wasn't a single debate that changed my mind. It happened over a period of a couple months.

Refreshing to hear! Thanks

 

[All Else Failed]

I just like arguing.


and showing people why they are wrong 100% of the time

 

[Minor Axis]

Do yall actually think you will change some one's mind?

The only person's mind you might change is the fence sitter. I'd say that is worth it and it also gives you a good feeling when you kick the shit out of the opposition with your keen logic and stinging points.

 

[Francis]

Do I expect to change your mind... Never...

Do I expect to post something that may ring true or hit a nerve and make you think, hear someone else say the something and make you look up the topic for yourself, perhaps..

I do not have all the answers nor does anyone else on this site do have the ability to change my mind or anyone else. A reality is that we form opinion from bits and pieces of things we hear and learn from various places, experiences and things we encounter in life.

At times I either post to quickly, do not express myself correctly or just use poor grammar due to English being my second language but I move forward..

Just because I make mistake in trying to post an idea does not make it my total 100% view either.. As an example if I was to am in favour of abortion rights but believe them to be a right of last usage only.. This means Abortion should not be a given right for people to just go make the nasty and expect medicine to solve the problem they created.. But if circumstances really make it that a child could or would not live I can see a reason for it.. Is this exclusive to any case or situation, no by far not and it really comes down to a case by case situation..

Just my humble opinion...

 

[JanieDough]

The only person's mind you might change is the fence sitter. I'd say that is worth it and it also gives you a good feeling when you kick the shit out of the opposition with your keen logic and stinging points.

That's the best part for me...I'm an ass like that.

 

[Johnfromokc]

I understand why conservative people feel the need to preach their message, but I don't understand why more open minded people even attempt to reason with them.

It's pretty hard to convince a conservobot to listen to reason, but as others have already said, it's the "undecided" people who gain the most. They can often see the idiocy of your average working class Joe or Jane voting for the conservative agenda against their own best financial interests.

As to the conservobots (AKA libertarian et al), they are unlikely to change, although I used to be one myself, but as time passed it became impossible to defend. But they seem to dig in even deeper when their flawed positions are subjected to logic and reason. They will wait a few days and then go right back to repeating the conservo-libertarian-bot talking points as if nothing happened. Kind of like Energizer bullshit Bot-Bunnies - they keep going and going and going...........

The most ironic ones are like the guy who is drawing multiple streams of taxpayer income, government pensions and health care, but is against universal health care and living wages for all other Americans. What fucking deluded, hypocritical asshats.

And funniest of all to me is how they deny listening to Limbaugh, Hannity, Boortz, Coulter and the rest of the "local" conservobot wannabees, but somehow manage to repeat the talking points, often verbatim from the same days radio show.

It does get old and you have to step away from it from time to time. There's just no cure for self inflicted conservative cranial rectumitus except for self cranial extraction.