Why Don't You Debate Politics?

[SalixIncendium]

I tend to stay out of the political debate forums unless my responsibilities here bring me to them.

While I have political views and act upon them, I have no interest in participating in debate about them, likely because I've been there and done that in other forums and on social media and I've yet to have anyone change my political views as the result of debate, nor have I significantly changed the political views of another.

Why don't you debate politics?

 

[Vee]

I avoid debating politics because I don't believe in the competence of political leaders, whatever their party might be, to defend the best interest of the people. But sometimes I debate other things that are connected to politics and I have the feeling that even if I want nothing to do with politics, it is very hard to be completely disconnected from the subject.
For example, I'm very passionate about health and nutrition and when I talk to people about it, sometimes we end up talking about politics because of the way current laws favor big corporations instead of population health. Sometimes the lines are a bit blurred and I find myself thinking "wait a minute, this is not the direction I wanted for this conversation".

 

[Sunstone]

I avoid debate -- unless I'm very bored -- largely because it seems fruitless. As the OP notes, opinions seldom seem to be changed by it.

 

[SalixIncendium]

The aim of a debate is not to try to change someone else's opinion, but to try to understand something together
As for me, it is for empathizing with people with different ideas than mine

Structure of a debate:

- There is this problem. I think this is the solution. What do you guys think?
- I think you're right because....../ I think you're wrong because....

I'm not sure that this is always the purpose of debate.

As I understand it, debate gives you an opportunity to express your thoughts on a specific topic and, when contradicted, tests your reasoning skills. The purpose, as I see it, is to convince others of your point and to defend your reasoning behind your point in the face of contradiction.

 

[Revoltingest]

Debate is less interesting than discussion.

 

[Woberts]

Political debate is pointless. It's not like there is one party, or one economic policy that is superior to all others. Debating which one is better just wastes everyone's time.

 

[Jainarayan]

I tend to stay out of the political debate forums unless my responsibilities here bring me to them.

While I have political views and act upon them, I have no interest in participating in debate about them, likely because I've been there and done that in other forums and on social media and I've yet to have anyone change my political views as the result of debate, nor have I significantly changed the political views of another.

Why don't you debate politics?

Pretty much the same reasons as you. Also, I don’t feel intelligent enough to speak about it. That’s been pointed out time and again in conversations. So I have a new policy of avoiding the subject whenever possible.

 

[suncowiam]

I have changed my opinions on some issues...

It's never been black and white, just from one to another point in the grey scale.

 

[stvdv]

@Luca85: The aim of a debate is not to try to change someone else's opinion, but to try to understand something together
As for me, it is for empathizing with people with different ideas than mine
Structure of a debate:
- There is this problem. I think this is the solution. What do you guys think?
- I think you're right because....../ I think you're wrong because....

I'm not sure that this is always the purpose of debate.
As I understand it, debate gives you an opportunity to express your thoughts on a specific topic and, when contradicted, tests your reasoning skills. The purpose, as I see it, is to convince others of your point and to defend your reasoning behind your point in the face of contradiction.

Thanks Luca85, I like your definition a lot. Especially useful in case of a "spiritual debate" IMHO
Of course SalixIncedkum also has a good point, express thought + test reasoning skills. I used to enjoy making stupid claims and perfectly defending it by reason and winning, and next day make an opposite claim and defending that as well. Now I like Luca85 way much more; esp. on spiritual matters.