Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Oakland-ish
Posts: 6046

Has the forum ever changed your views?

In the time that I have been here, I have noticed that while there may be an awful lot of debating going on in certain threads, rarely does anyone seem to change their mind on an issue, even when presented with facts and so on.

I was talking about this with Cornelius and we both sort of agreed that people seem very taken with their own opinions and aren't looking for a debate to possibly beome more informed and alter their beliefs , but rather to just have a soapbox to preach the same story over and over and over.

But occasionally, someone *does* change their views based on other people's arguments, just by taking the time to see all sides and be open to the idea that it's okay to change your mind.

Unfortunately, when this does happen, for the most part it goes overlooked and the person is forever judged here by their initial belief.

For example...my thread on sexually graphic imagery in TLF...by the end of the thread I announced that I had changed my mind and saw that I was wrong, but several times people have dredged up my original idea and used it to discredit things I have said.

Or on the other end...where fiend started a thread apologizing to PMG about his behavior in wota and actually owned up to being wrong. People gained some respect for him doing that, for being big enough to say he was wrong.

I am pretty sure I am not the only person this has happened to.

So the purpose of this thread is two-fold: one is to tell us if there has ever been anything here that has changed your mind on something, and two, for you to have the chance to put that out, so that if in the future anyone every dredges up your past to use against you, you can point out this thread and show where you turned a new leaf.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Oakland-ish
Posts: 6046

For the record....

Although I thought that sexually explicit imagery should be posted in IOD, after the thread where we discussed it I changed my mind and prefer this entire site to be open to whatever.

I very much appreciate the freedom I have here.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: GA
Posts: 6975

i think more importantly, i have learned so much from the other forum members.
i get information on things i would normally not pay attnetion to, or i may get to know someone who is affected by things i always thought were not so important.

more than my changing my opinions, because lets face it, who gives a shit what i think?
i think better than changing, i have been enlightened time and time and again by all of you in some way or another.

im better rounded for having been here.
and the first one to make a fat joke gets a fist to the arse.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 18138

I’ve changed my views on a couple things like genetically altered food since I’ve been here, not really because of here other than I researched and paid more attention when it was being talked about.
I have seen both ADHD and PMG admit they were wrong, and I have done it a couple times for taking inappropriate tones with people and once to Goatboy during a discussion on gravity and earth rotation...I was only wrong cause I was drunk or something

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: California
Posts: 4252

Although I am pretty set in my ways on some items. All of the forums I have visited helped breed tolerance and open mindedness, this one is no exception.

I have done a few flip flops here but in general my views are similar to what they were but with a bit more wisdom about the reprocussions to my views and more empathy towards my opposition.

No forum can change whom you are but with more information better decisions and more completely researched opinions can be formed either cementing them or shifting them and softening them.

It may seem that some people don't change but we all do. Karen's still a Bitch but I like her now (position softening). Goat Boy sucks and so does Goat Boy (position cemented). Smug Git was funny, now he's funny and pathetic (Position shifted) :P

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9196

Arguing on the Internet is like comparing dick size (you still have a smaller dick but at least you just get complimented on your photoshop skills).

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 36094

quote:

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Originally posted by Dog Breath
Smug Git was funny, now he's funny and pathetic (Position shifted) :P

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 7236

quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
****

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Land of Entrapment
Posts: 660

Although I wouldn't say that my views have changed I would deffinitley agree that they have been expanded. It's great to hear what other people in the US and around the world think.

I Love you guys!..

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Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Tyler, Tx.
Posts: 252

hmm...nope, your wrong, I am right, 'nuff said.


....

but in all seriousness...I only get into arguements or debates that I do have convincing facts on. So, if it comes across as me not changing my ways, so be it, but I always have facts to back me up. Though, in reading different debates, specifically about things that I am not as knowledgable about, I have definitely changed my mind based on evidence and facts presented.

I tend to be a pretty open minded person, and I can definitely change my opinions beliefs when presented w/ facts (i.e.. - I was born and raised christian, then when i was 18, I became a agnostic after reading some interesting info, and then decided to do away with the god myth altogether after more evidence was presented, and am now an athiest.)

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: the heart of an awl
Posts: 3714

i sort of changed my opinion a little about the display of the confederate flag.

now i can accept that some people have a sincere attatchment to it that has nothing to do with racism.

TEFL is not included in that group, however.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 14275

quote:

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Originally posted by Dog Breath

Karen's still a Bitch

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Quit kissing my ass, dammit!

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 22259

Many times over my views have been changed by the people here. I thank you all for the expansion of my world view.

-m

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: northern Virginia
Posts: 794

I just wanted to say that of all the boards I've come across.. this is the most pleasingly eclectic group of people.. most here are cultured and aware and oppinionated yet accepting.. I think it's fucking awsome to be able to interact with such a large group of people with all different views.. I don't see how anyone could possibly not grow from it in some way.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: East Bay
Posts: 3495

quote:

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Originally posted by WastedPotential
i sort of changed my opinion a little about the display of the confederate flag.

now i can accept that some people have a sincere attatchment to it that has nothing to do with racism.

TEFL is not included in that group, however.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7504

My beliefs on all issues are in a constant state of flux based on the information I'm presented with.

Nothing that's happened here has caused me to change my basic philosophical outlook on the world, but I have changed my mind on some policies, and on the usefulness of some policies in some situations. For example: Sp00ky convinced me that the use of cluster bombs in an aerial bombing campaign is generally to be avoided.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9196

quote:

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Originally posted by flocat
I've yet to see really good poetry, though.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 2532

I don't think my views have changed, but I am a little more openminded now.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 22259

SO thats why you agreed to dinner and a movie.

-m

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 18138

I also think a lot of the reason minds might not be changed on a regular basis during debate is because of what they are based on. Some of us have philosophies mostly based on the realities and other’s philosophies are more based on ideas of what should be. Those two types probably live in two wholly different worlds.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: aggressivly happy
Posts: 9182

not me

im closed, i open my opinions for no one

i never change my mind for i am right to start with

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: northern Virginia
Posts: 794

quote:

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Originally posted by RiZZ
not me

im closed, i open my opinions for no one

i never change my mind for i am right to start with

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: East Bay
Posts: 3495

quote:

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Originally posted by Goatboy


That hurts.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 2062

Yeah it has, infact it has made me more open to accept other peoples views and to not be so narrowminded.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 0.50
Posts: 10035

quote:

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Originally posted by Spooky
And finally I have learned that Canada has the biggest advantage over both the US and Europe, both culturally and socially in terms of perceiving the flow of ideas in the civilised world.

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