Greetings to ALL - Newbie questions the nature of these 'debates'?

First of all, hello to everyone on all sides. Glad to have found a place I can dip my toe into the big questions we're all struggling with. I'm definitely a NOOB so please be gentle.

I'm struggling with the nature of ALL political debate these days, and I'm considering that one compounding problem may be the WAY we debate the issues. (This is not a critique of this particular forum - more comment on how we discuss issues in general.) It seems to me that shortly after an issue is raised, each participant chooses their 'corner' and cements themselves to a viewpoint - we seem to have abandoned any ability to truly 'consider' or be open to revision of our stance. But perhaps I am too skeptical or naive - which is why I am asking...

Briefly, I'm interested if anyone has experienced changing their position on an issue discussed here or at least feel that productive effects have resulted from the debate?

Please share your thoughts or experience as I am genuinely interested in exploring how we can become more productive in our discourse.

Thank you.

JackAugust said:

First of all, hello to everyone on all sides. Glad to have found a place I can dip my toe into the big questions we're all struggling with. I'm definitely a NOOB so please be gentle.

I'm struggling with the nature of ALL political debate these days, and I'm considering that one compounding problem may be the WAY we debate the issues. (This is not a critique of this particular forum - more comment on how we discuss issues in general.) It seems to me that shortly after an issue is raised, each participant chooses their 'corner' and cements themselves to a viewpoint - we seem to have abandoned any ability to truly 'consider' or be open to revision of our stance. But perhaps I am too skeptical or naive - which is why I am asking...

Briefly, I'm interested if anyone has experienced changing their position on an issue discussed here or at least feel that productive effects have resulted from the debate?

Please share your thoughts or experience as I am genuinely interested in exploring how we can become more productive in our discourse.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

Very few people are interested in Truth anymore, they are interested in building and protecting their fantasies and as well satisfying their greed for wealth and power. As a result the quality of the discourse is abominable. As a result the West is melting down.

Anyway enough of that, this is a welcome thread and we try to keep things light here.

And dont let the Modern Morons get you down, keep getting better.

Welcome.




EDIT: The last super big thing that I changed my mind on after listening on an internet forum was gun control. That was not here, that was at my last home.

Briefly, I'm interested if anyone has experienced changing their position on an issue discussed here or at least feel that productive effects have resulted from the debate?

Please share your thoughts or experience as I am genuinely interested in exploring how we can become more productive in our discourse.[/QUOTE]

First, welcome to DP!

To answer your question... yes, I have changed my opinion on several topics as discussions have helped me consider an issue a slightly different way. Economics is one area that I tend to continue to expand on and clarify my position on issues, Philosophy is another.

*Reasonable* debate and discourse is always positive, the sharing of ideas and coming to consensus on issues should always be a goal worth achieving.

JackAugust said:

First of all, hello to everyone on all sides. Glad to have found a place I can dip my toe into the big questions we're all struggling with. I'm definitely a NOOB so please be gentle.

I'm struggling with the nature of ALL political debate these days, and I'm considering that one compounding problem may be the WAY we debate the issues. (This is not a critique of this particular forum - more comment on how we discuss issues in general.) It seems to me that shortly after an issue is raised, each participant chooses their 'corner' and cements themselves to a viewpoint - we seem to have abandoned any ability to truly 'consider' or be open to revision of our stance. But perhaps I am too skeptical or naive - which is why I am asking...

Briefly, I'm interested if anyone has experienced changing their position on an issue discussed here or at least feel that productive effects have resulted from the debate?

Please share your thoughts or experience as I am genuinely interested in exploring how we can become more productive in our discourse.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

It's a noble exploration, but with a depressing response. There is nothing that can be done to encourage more productive discourse, because we have included too many people in it. It used to be that in order to have your opinion heard, you either had to have the funds to get it out there yourself, or have it declared of such value that someone else would pay to put it out there for you, because they thought they would make a profit in doing so. Outside of that, the circulation of ideas and opinions was rather limited, and was probably about as productive and civil as what we see on forums such as this. Now any asshole with a keyboard and an opinion can throw in with the rest, with no expectation of civility or compromise.

There are wonderful writers on this site, and great ideas being discussed and presented...but few come to a "Debate" forum to learn or be convinced. The whole premise of this forum is division and disagreement. To even register an account here, you're gonna want to be a scrapper.

I've seen minds changed here...or at least "impacted", I've come to think of things differently because of conversations I've had here, even if my ultimate opinion wasn't reversed. But it's a poor place to do planning or activism...hehe... Honestly, if you're hear for anything more than the fun of a brain workout, and getting to know some cool characters, you're probably going to get frustrated. And brawling is definitely a part of it.

That's my take on it, anyway...some people might have loftier or more complex versions of what goes on here, but that might be a little self indulgence...

Welcome

Hope you enjoy your stay at DP!

JackAugust said:

First of all, hello to everyone on all sides. Glad to have found a place I can dip my toe into the big questions we're all struggling with. I'm definitely a NOOB so please be gentle.

I'm struggling with the nature of ALL political debate these days, and I'm considering that one compounding problem may be the WAY we debate the issues. (This is not a critique of this particular forum - more comment on how we discuss issues in general.) It seems to me that shortly after an issue is raised, each participant chooses their 'corner' and cements themselves to a viewpoint - we seem to have abandoned any ability to truly 'consider' or be open to revision of our stance. But perhaps I am too skeptical or naive - which is why I am asking...

Briefly, I'm interested if anyone has experienced changing their position on an issue discussed here or at least feel that productive effects have resulted from the debate?

Please share your thoughts or experience as I am genuinely interested in exploring how we can become more productive in our discourse.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

I find it quite a different problem. Not so much people taking a corner and sticking to it as it is people trying to force me into a corner by demanding that my political beliefs will create x result. And usually x result will be a variation of their thinking up a really stupid way of doing something and then insisting it has to be done that way.