Seeing yourself in a mirror of debate...........

[michel]

Once or twice, someone has 'dug up' an old thread (but a good one), and I have been quite surprized to see how my opinions have mellowed, and changed since I joined.

As far as I am concerned, that is a good thing (because it means that my decision-making is adaptive to new ideas), whereas I have often seen myself as running on the same track, unable to change.

Anyone else noticed this ? - look back on some of the older posts, and compare what you would reply now, with what you did then..............

 

[Yerda]

Yes I've noticed this in myself. In one of my first posts here I urged all those willing to die for god to go do so and leave everyone else alone.

 

[Darkdale]

Once or twice, someone has 'dug up' an old thread (but a good one), and I have been quite surprized to see how my opinions have mellowed, and changed since I joined.

As far as I am concerned, that is a good thing (because it means that my decision-making is adaptive to new ideas), whereas I have often seen myself as running on the same track, unable to change.

Anyone else noticed this ? - look back on some of the older posts, and compare what you would reply now, with what you did then..............

I haven't been here long enough, but looking at posts I was making a year ago, I'm very proud that my statements are more heathen now than they were a year ago. I was far more selfish and angry about everything a few years ago. I'm much calmer now, but not at all passive.

 

[Jaymes]

I've noticed it in myself as well... that's why I wince whenever old threads I've posted in are dug up.

 

[robtex]

This is my third major forum to debate on. I got most my bumps and bruises on the other two which I don't visit often anymore. I really like the format of this one quite a bit more. But I use to be uu theist who is now a uu atheist after losing religous debates with atheists on this forum. I always look at it as a victory if i learn and grow from it. I have a small small ego. Almost non-existant.

I remember though on another forum i was arguing with a christian about jesus being the son of god. i was arguing the con Isaying he was not, as i have never been a christian. At the time i was a uu theist leaning towards deism. I was about 20 posts into this arguement with two christians which means about 60 posts had transpired between us plus 10-20 from other members when i get this pm from an atheist on that forum.

He introduces me to the concept of the strawman arguement in his pm shows me where the two christians use it over and over in that thread and tells me a better strategy for it. The strategy was calling them on the strawman and making them stick to the origninal question or challenge. As it was i was chasing each new bible qoute and arguement all over the place completely forgetting about the orginial topic which was "was jesus the savior and son of god".
That forum didn't have a group of mod's to tell you to stay on topic so quite different from here. i think that was one of my greatest learning experiences on online debate.

on this forum my transition went from theist to non-theist but my debate tatics seem to be pretty similar....it is funny how much you can learn so quickly in an envirorment like this though....It would be cool to have a thread listing what each of us have learned on here and from who....for me it would be a rather lengthy post.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Such an interesting topic!

Hmm... I honestly don't know if my method of debate has changed. If it has, it might be because I'm more self-confident than I was to start out with.

 

[cardero]

I do not capitalize words as much as I USED to.

 

[mr.guy]

I've only been here a little bit, but i've concluded that i ought not drink and post quite so much.

 

[Yerda]

I've only been here a little bit, but i've concluded that i ought not drink and post quite so much.

LMAO.

I've posted while completely inebriated a couple of times. It always surprises me when I read what I've posted in the morning, no glaring spelling or grammatical mistakes. Like pool, my ability to write seems to improve with alcohol.

 

[mr.guy]

I get a buttload of frubals after a couple posts i've left stoned....

 

[Bennettresearch]

Once or twice, someone has 'dug up' an old thread (but a good one), and I have been quite surprized to see how my opinions have mellowed, and changed since I joined.

As far as I am concerned, that is a good thing (because it means that my decision-making is adaptive to new ideas), whereas I have often seen myself as running on the same track, unable to change.

Anyone else noticed this ? - look back on some of the older posts, and compare what you would reply now, with what you did then..............

Hi Michel,

Ah, the mystery of deep thought. I am an old timer at looking in the mirror. I spent 30 years directly involved with this activity. I think that I went a lot farther than most people do, as far as wanting to know what was in my subconscious mind and how to use it effectively. The subconscious mind is still a strange animal in as much as I can still have some pretty strange dreams. I wake up and say, where did you ever come up with that?

Good topic. Let me say that somewhere I read or heard that you cannot know another person if you don't know yourself.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

My opinions on some things have changed since I've been here, and RF members have helped change them for the good.

 

[Sunstone]

Sadly, one of the greatest changes I've seen in myself over the last year has been to conclude that ID is scientifically bankrupt. Before coming on the forums, I thought it had something to stand on, but I've not seen even one sound argument for it in the year I've been here. Rather, all I've seen are unsound arguments for it. So my opinion of it's validity has changed dramatically.