I have an opinion that differs from your's. I'm right your wrong. End of story.

[FlamingoBlue]

And so it goes. On and on,

How many of us start a thread looking for another point of view, with an open mind?

blue

 

[Willing and Unsure]

*quietly raises a hand*


there's nothing wrong with other opinions, and i'm more than willing to discuss them to see what other people think and believe. its the only true way to learn from others and get to know them.

 

[Scabbers]

give the girl a gold star, FlamBlu

 

[modest mouse]

I think that many people mistake an argument for a personal indictment. Rather than discuss a topic it degenerates into a fight over who is in error, when in fact many topics are ripe with gray areas. I find many people to be defensive by default, which honders any interesting probes into a topic.

 

[Amelie]

And so it goes. On and on,

How many of us start a thread looking for another point of view, with an open mind?

blue

I have yet to start a thread, but that would be my primary objective unless I just wanted to share something to see if anyone else felt the same way.

 

[plasticman33]

And so it goes. On and on,

How many of us start a thread looking for another point of view, with an open mind?

blue

We learn by listening to others opinions. No one should put on blinders, every opinion has a value, whether you believe in it or not!

 

[Moridin187]

*quietly raises a hand*


there's nothing wrong with other opinions, and i'm more than willing to discuss them to see what other people think and believe. its the only true way to learn from others and get to know them.

As Willing knows and can probably tell you, I HOPE that when I'm wrong someone will tell me. She's already helped disabuse me of one of my longstanding erroneous ideas.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

How many of us start a thread looking for another point of view, with an open mind?

I am always asking for different POVs (or at least wanting to hear them), but I am not sure how open my mind is; I am usually fairly convinced I am correct in my basic beliefs and I will defend them vigorously. At the same time I want to hear other view points so that I can refine what I do believe and my arguments in support of those beliefs. OTOH, if someone does prove a point or issue to my satisfaction I will usually try to incorporate that new data point into my beliefs - which is often a lot more than others with "open minds" can accomodate.

Sometimes I am not sure what my stance is on something, or I hold a belief that I a mwilling to easily chage - then I will ask for other's opinions. I have done that a number of times here on sexual topics.

I have often had lengthy debates with people and they sometimes express their surprise at how deeply I believe something. This has always amazed me - I mean if you don't strongly hold your core beliefs then what good are they? If a few oft repeated myths or arguments can easily sway you, then either you are very fickle or you don't think much about what you believe. But then I guess I shouldn't be that amazed; most people, whether they strongly believe something or not, don't think about or research their beliefs deeply - they just accept what they are told, and think emotionally rather than rationally.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I haven't killed anyone yet, I fail to see the problem.

Oh my gawd, I'm kidding. Jeeez, put the foam rubber bat away Blue.

I've been known to listen to others and alter my opinions when I think they make sense. I enjoy a good debate.

I also enjoy a good fight. That doesn't make me a bad person. You better agree with me or I'll take that foam rubber bat away from you and beat you with it.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Well...

It's rare that I start threads here, and even when I do they usually are not ones to start debates per se. And, as I'm sure you know, Blue, I mainly stick to the "silly" fun threads.

 

[Lost Cause]

The problem is people go into a difference of opinion with the attitude that someone has got to win. I don't mind someone disagreeing with me so long as they have researched most of the options to their position. I dismiss an argument when I hear old, canned responses that came from TV or a teacher. I want to debate with someone that knows the stengths of their position, as well as its weakness. Any other approach to a debate seems the same as debating religion with a drooler that can only repeat passages with no personal opinion in response.
If someone attacks me personally, I know they are on shaky ground, and have no other options.
So when they start labeling you as "X,Y, or Z" that's the signal of weakness from the start!