Members dravenzouk Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 I've been thinking about the political "discussions" here on HCBF, and I'm interested to know what effect they actually have. There are a lot of very heated OT threads about politics, race, etc. Some folks have VERY strongly held opinions and and weigh in with everything from bull{censored} posturing to intelligent discourse. My question is: has anyone everyone "gotten through"? Does any of it actually lead to someone re-examining their own views? Has anyone learned something they didn't "know"? Have you yourself ever thought, "gee, that's a good point, I never considered that."? Does anyone actually consider and try to understand the other's position and maybe expand their own outlook? Has anyone ever changed their mind? Or are we all just patting ourselves on the back thinking, "there, I said it!"? Are we really just looking for someone else to take our side and back us up? Is it just an exercise in chest-thumping? Don't get me wrong - I do believe that some (a lot in fact) opinions and viewpoints ARE right and SHOULD be held onto and fortified by speaking them out loud and connecting with others that feel the same way. That is valid and worthwhile. But if a person never finds themselves changing their mind, then something is probably out of whack. I don't believe anyone (myself included) has it "all worked out"; we all have something to learn. We all could use a careful recondiseration of our own beliefs now and then. But if we never actually listen to the guy on the other side of the fence, what's the point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 So far no one here has made me change my mind on any of the candidates, but I have gotten some info here that has made me look deeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Captain Fathead Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 Lots of candidates names are tossed around in the political discussions. I read what's said, then do research of my own. Opinions here can be skewed, so I take everything with a grain of salt. So in relation to your original question, no, no one has changed my mind. However, they have pushed me to do my own research and draw my own conclusions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dravenzouk Posted October 5, 2007 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 I'm not just talking about candidates. I'm talking about broader political issues too. The war, New Orleans, immigration, SCOTA, news media, taxation and government spending, social nets - all of it. Racial issues are also a hot topic 'round here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bholder Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 Nobody's really "changed my mind", but I have been exposed to arguments and facts that have indeed caused me to modify my positions and opinions (after further research and verification). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Captain Fathead Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 Unfortunately, I'm pretty deeply ingrained in my beliefs. I'll admit some of 'em aren't always rational. I'll admit that I'm being an idiot if I get pwned in a discussion, but I'm not going to change my beliefs. I try not to make an ass of myself if my stance on an issue is stupid. It's unusually busy for political threads today... Probably time for the Friday party cart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 I try to read the political threads in hopes of opening my mind from what media biases I usually get fed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pickdust Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 I've been thinking about the political "discussions" here on HCBF, and I'm interested to know what effect they actually have.There are a lot of very heated OT threads about politics, race, etc. Some folks have VERY strongly held opinions and and weigh in with everything from bull{censored} posturing to intelligent discourse.My question is: has anyone everyone "gotten through"? Does any of it actually lead to someone re-examining their own views? Has anyone learned something they didn't "know"? Have you yourself ever thought, "gee, that's a good point, I never considered that."? Does anyone actually consider and try to understand the other's position and maybe expand their own outlook?Has anyone ever changed their mind? (emphasis added) No.......................and I'm not trying to be funny or flippant. I don't participate in religious or political discussions here because the majority seem to engage in the current definition of argument, i.e. brow beating. I' gladly engage in argument if it pushed the issue into new areas where one's point of view might actually be enlightened or changed. Just my opinion of what I've seen. PD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chunky-b Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 I really enjoy hearing other people's point of view and to have either comical banter or a polite, logical discussion with people who may disagree with me. That is one of the things that is cool about this forum. There is a wide range of ideals, experiences, backgrounds, geographical areas, and opinons. I do not enjoy when the arguements drop to serious name calling, hurt feelings, and third grade behaviour, but as long as it is all in fun, then screw BOALG and his left wing socialism!! Seriously, I feel I have broadened my knowledge and been spurred to learn more about a topic, but as far as the political stuff, I have not changed my opinions. Now on the bass stuff, I find out just how little I know and how much i have to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 No mind changage here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 5, 2007 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2007 No.......................and I'm not trying to be funny or flippant. I don't participate in religious or political discussions here because the majority seem to engage in the current definition of argument, i.e. brow beating. I' gladly engage in argument if it pushed the issue into new areas where one's point of view might actually be enlightened or changed.Just my opinion of what I've seen.PD I'm with PD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Onkel Bob Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 Yep. Just a little while ago. I didn't participate in the thread though so don't bother looking for it. Edit: Oh and whatever Kindness says about anything he's wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 5, 2007 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2007 Edit: Oh and whatever Kindness says about anything he's wrong. Right on. I hate that guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassesofalessergod Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 i used to think king kashue was a nice guy.... then he was mean to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 5, 2007 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2007 i used to think king kashue was a nice guy.... then he was mean to me. ... with bulleted points and cites to primary sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ThudMaker Posted October 5, 2007 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2007 I really enjoy hearing other people's point of view and to have either comical banter or a polite, logical discussion with people who may disagree with me. That is one of the things that is cool about this forum. There is a wide range of ideals, experiences, backgrounds, geographical areas, and opinons. I do not enjoy when the arguements drop to serious name calling, hurt feelings, and third grade behaviour, but as long as it is all in fun, then screw BOALG and his left wing socialism!! Seriously, I feel I have broadened my knowledge and been spurred to learn more about a topic, but as far as the political stuff, I have not changed my opinions. Now on the bass stuff, I find out just how little I know and how much i have to learn. Good post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members King Kashue Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 i used to think king kashue was a nice guy.... then he was mean to me. No, that was all "good touching"...I swear... <_> As for political threads, I've with Bholder in that several times I've had misinformation corrected or a different perspective given that's caused me to alter my positions. And at the very least, the discussions have forced me to think through my own positions so that I can explain them, and thus I come to a better understanding of why I hold the positions I do (self-examination and all that rot)... Of course, when I say "discussion" I mean "discussion", which is only about half of what's going on in a given thread...The insults and flames are obviously pretty worthless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robin Posted October 5, 2007 Members Share Posted October 5, 2007 I'm with PD. Yup! Me too. Take that crap somewhere else imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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