Why Do You Debate Politics?

[Sunstone]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining. If I need to test an idea, I bounce it off a friend or two, but in a discussion, not a debate.

 

[metis]

Because of my masochistic tendencies.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining.

I find that putting my ideas forward for people to poke holes in them helps me find places where they aren't as well-supported as I thought.

 

[Jesster]

I tend not to because it always seems to get too heated. I don't handle that well. Politics are still important to me because of how personally they have affected me lately. I'll still stick my neck in, but not for too long.

 

[Nakosis]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining.

It was fun when you could make fun of it. As the discussions get more personal, involve more personal attacks, it gets harder to find the humor in it.

 

[Shushersbedamned]

Too many people are wrong about too many things.

 

[sealchan]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining. If I need to test an idea, I bounce it off a friend or two, but in a discussion, not a debate.

In politics as in religion there are deep personal beliefs involved. I suspect that there is some sort of basic personality difference between liberals and conservatives that drives their discussion and I am intrigued with getting at that distinction if I can.

I am a life long registered Independent. The rhetoric that comes out of both the Republican and Democratic parties often belies the unconscious emotional underpinnings of their would be rational arguments. Unfortunately, in these times the Republicans and conservatives are really suffering under their allegiance to a thoroughly disreputable person. Credulity is being severely strained and will probably fail altogether before too long (witness Fox News' Neil Cavuto's recent rant...Fox News host calls out Trump - CNN Video )

The truth is often somewhere in-between two-party political views and i like to stand there and find reasonable solutions while others succomb to shouting matches that go nowhere accept to attempt to strengthen their certainty against the irritant of their inner insecurities. So many people feel so strongly but solutions are hard to come by. Finding a way to hear both sides, honor their needs and find common goals and a way forward is a great challenge with a significant potential for practical payoff.

 

[Spiderman]

Because I learned so much when the Liberals at RF Correct me.

I've been wrong many times... so I'm always interested in what you've got

Debating politics at RF has really made me far more liberal in my views

 

[YmirGF]

I find that putting my ideas forward for people to poke holes in them helps me find places where they aren't as well-supported as I thought.

That is almost the only reason I poke my head up from time to time.

 

[YmirGF]

Too many people are wrong about too many things.

 

[Spiderman]

I came to RF with positive things to say about far-right Roman Catholic dictators like Francisco Franco and Augusto Pinochet, as a possible necessary evil to combat the errors of communism, and radical defenders of the faith and morals that I cherish.

Sharing such views at a liberal forum really convicted my heart, that what I was doing was sick!

I can't thank you enough.

I still think abortion is the killing of a human being, but RF has got me to see even that as a necessary evil, an act of Charity and mercy.

I share what I learn at RF with my conservative mother, and it gets ugly!

She thinks you liberals are baby killers who choose the dark side and consent to Satan's "New World order"!

Not to mention the "sodomite" abominations!

 

[bobhikes]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining. If I need to test an idea, I bounce it off a friend or two, but in a discussion, not a debate.

Because it is the one thing that effects my life, that can be fixed with open debate. Problem is we never have open debate. They do everything in their power Politician and debaters to side track fair and open debates.

 

[YmirGF]

Because it is the one thing that effects my life, that can be fixed with open debate. Problem is we never have open debate. They do everything in their power Politician and debaters to side track fair and open debates.

Yeah, I hate it when people bring up weird things like facts. Like, **** facts. They just get in the way of a good narrative anyway.

 

[Phantasman]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining. If I need to test an idea, I bounce it off a friend or two, but in a discussion, not a debate.

Debate is when there are two (or more) sides to any view. I only debate those who see only one view.

 

[bobhikes]

Yeah, I hate it when people bring up weird things like facts. Like, **** facts. They just get in the way of a good narrative anyway.

Yep a good example of one tactic claiming the other debater is saying something he/she is not and then ranting about what he/she didn't say

 

[YmirGF]

Yep a good example of one tactic claiming the other debater is saying something he/she is not and then ranting about what he/she didn't say

Ran into that a week ago in a non-political thread where I was accused of making a straw man argument. I asked where and never did get a meaningful response, which indicated to me that the accuser didn't really understand the nature of a straw man argument.

 

[sun rise]

Because of my masochistic tendencies.

Nail, meet hammer. Sometimes I just can't stand it especially when someone states something without anything besides opinion to back it up.

I've been wrong many times... so I'm always interested in what you've got

You are in a very small group. Most people, including me, spend most of their time "selling" their views.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Why do you debate politics?



As for myself, I debate only when and to the extent that I find it entertaining. If I need to test an idea, I bounce it off a friend or two, but in a discussion, not a debate.

Interestingly, I just answered this question for you on another thread 13 minutes ago:

Another change I've noticed is how many of the things I used to care about simply don't matter any more - ideas that I would once have called core beliefs. I still rate myself more liberal than conservative, but since retiring and expatriating, American, problems and most world problems in particular matter don't concern me like they once did.

I still love to discuss them on RF and similar venues, but their outcomes don't have much impact any more. Tariff wars, Obamacare, tax cuts, #metoo, hacked elections, Black Lives Matter, gun control, endless scandals - I don't want such things bothering me any more, and they don't. They're just theater now, with the greatest reality show on earth unfolding daily.

 

[Woberts]

Because I love to make people squirm when they realize that their entire life they have been misguided, and that Wobertism is the only correct worldview.

 

[Kenny]

Because Jesus told us to get our hands dirty... and politics is about as dirty as one can get.