Have Any of My Posts Ever Changed Your Mind or Made You See Something Differently?

[Debater Slayer]

For the last two or three years, I have become uninterested in debating people for many pages on end, instead opting to give my thoughts as appropriate to a given thread and perhaps follow up with an exchange or even a short debate at times. I tend to be much more likely to challenge someone's argument if I believe that it demonizes or unfairly depicts a certain group or their beliefs, or, say, a certain religion or worldview. On most issues, disagreement per se doesn't concern me much, if at all, but accurate representation of others or their positions does. So, for example, I don't care if someone doesn't share my religious views, but I will usually be much more inclined to challenge their post (rather than merely respond to have a discussion or casual debate) if they unfairly misrepresent said views or people who hold them rather than merely disagree with either.

This is mainly for two reasons:

• I have come to find it more interesting to explore other perspectives and the various ways in which people arrive at their positions, whether I find those correct or not, than it is to try to convince others of my views. I especially like asking people various questions about their views so that I can test my own beliefs against different perspectives. This has helped me to change my mind on and have a broader understanding of many topics.

• Even back when I was interested in changing people's minds in most debates I participated in, I ended up believing that debating people, let alone online in an informal capacity, didn't tend to be successful in changing minds. My own views and the views of many people I know have changed precisely because of online debates and discussions, but I don't think this is what happens in the majority of such debates and discussions.

My question in this thread is out of curiosity about whether this has happened spontaneously rather than through any attempts on my end, given what I said above about my current approach to posting: Do you recall any instances where my posts have changed your mind or caused you to see something differently? If yes, do you recall what about the post or posts caused that or what the topic was?

Personally, many members over the years have contributed to changes in my views on various topics. This is one of the main reasons I have found RF so valuable both as a community and a source of intellectual and personal growth for me.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I have edited and expanded the poll options. I had to reset the votes, since they would have counted toward the newer options even though they were given for the older ones.

 

[JustGeorge]

You've pushed me towards not believing in free will, but I think I've already told you that.

 

[Yerda]

No, but I've rarely found myself disagreeing with you.

 

[McBell]

For the last two or three years, I have become uninterested in debating people for many pages on end, instead opting to give my thoughts as appropriate to a given thread and perhaps follow up with an exchange or even a short debate at times. I tend to be much more likely to challenge someone's argument if I believe that it demonizes or unfairly depicts a certain group or their beliefs, or, say, a certain religion or worldview. On most issues, disagreement per se doesn't concern me much, if at all, but accurate representation of others or their positions does. So, for example, I don't care if someone doesn't share my religious views, but I will usually be much more inclined to challenge their post (rather than merely respond to have a discussion or casual debate) if they unfairly misrepresent said views or people who hold them rather than merely disagree with either.

This is mainly for two reasons:

• I have come to find it more interesting to explore other perspectives and the various ways in which people arrive at their positions, whether I find those correct or not, than it is to try to convince others of my views. I especially like asking people various questions about their views so that I can test my own beliefs against different perspectives. This has helped me to change my mind on and have a broader understanding of many topics.
• Even back when I was interested in changing people's minds in most debates I participated in, I ended up believing that debating people, let alone online in an informal capacity, didn't tend to be successful in changing minds. My own views and the views of many people I know have changed precisely because of online debates and discussions, but I don't think this is what happens in the majority of such debates and discussions.

My question in this thread is out of curiosity about whether this has happened spontaneously rather than through any attempts on my end, given what I said above about my current approach to posting: Do you recall any instances where my posts have changed your mind or caused you to see something differently? If yes, do you recall what about the post or posts caused that or what the topic was?

Personally, many members over the years have contributed to changes in my views on various topics. This is one of the main reasons I have found RF so valuable both as a community and a source of intellectual and personal growth for me.

13 years is a mighty long time.
Especially when it comes to my Swiss Cheese memory.

I remember there being a number of posts that made me rethink what I thought.
I can remember the content of said posts.
I can not remember who is responsible for the posts though.

Sucks getting old.

 

[Secret Chief]

13 years is a mighty long time.
Especially when it comes to my Swiss Cheese memory.

I remember there being a number of posts that made me rethink what I thought.
I can remember the content of said posts.
I can not remember who is responsible for the posts though.

Sucks getting old.

Sorry, what was the question?

 

[McBell]

Sorry, what was the question?

Who put the ham on the tv?

 

[McBell]

Who put the ham on the tv?

And why is the remote in the frig...

 

[Revoltingest]

I've come to know the perspective of an Egyptian former Muslim.
Change my mind?
I dunno.
Expand it?
Yes.

 

[Stonetree]

For the last two or three years, I have become uninterested in debating people for many pages on end, instead opting to give my thoughts as appropriate to a given thread and perhaps follow up with an exchange or even a short debate at times. I tend to be much more likely to challenge someone's argument if I believe that it demonizes or unfairly depicts a certain group or their beliefs, or, say, a certain religion or worldview. On most issues, disagreement per se doesn't concern me much, if at all, but accurate representation of others or their positions does. So, for example, I don't care if someone doesn't share my religious views, but I will usually be much more inclined to challenge their post (rather than merely respond to have a discussion or casual debate) if they unfairly misrepresent said views or people who hold them rather than merely disagree with either.

This is mainly for two reasons:

• I have come to find it more interesting to explore other perspectives and the various ways in which people arrive at their positions, whether I find those correct or not, than it is to try to convince others of my views. I especially like asking people various questions about their views so that I can test my own beliefs against different perspectives. This has helped me to change my mind on and have a broader understanding of many topics.
• Even back when I was interested in changing people's minds in most debates I participated in, I ended up believing that debating people, let alone online in an informal capacity, didn't tend to be successful in changing minds. My own views and the views of many people I know have changed precisely because of online debates and discussions, but I don't think this is what happens in the majority of such debates and discussions.

My question in this thread is out of curiosity about whether this has happened spontaneously rather than through any attempts on my end, given what I said above about my current approach to posting: Do you recall any instances where my posts have changed your mind or caused you to see something differently? If yes, do you recall what about the post or posts caused that or what the topic was?

Personally, many members over the years have contributed to changes in my views on various topics. This is one of the main reasons I have found RF so valuable both as a community and a source of intellectual and personal growth for me.

You have made me think, "Put yourself in the other guy's shoes". You pointed out how people in your part of the world view American intervention in foreign affairs.