Just a thought...

[Eumenides]

I've been browsing through some of the more politically heavy threads, and got to wondering about something. I don't participate in political discussions unless I know that the format is one in which I know the people and know they won't resort to the name calling which renders an argument pointless.

So many people here get so upset about an argument that they are willing to make a personal attack on someone for upholding their own beliefs.

WHat it reminded me of was an episode of "Friends". Please, don't groan all at one time. In this episode, Phoebe is trying to get Ross to admit that there might be a possibility that evolution never happened. He, being a paleontologist, sticks firm to his belief until he is willing to admit that there might be the "teeniest tiniest" possibility that he could be wrong.

At that point, Phoebe gasps and says that she has lost respect for him because he backed down on what he believed. Now, she was just joking, but does anyone feel this way when they get into a discussion? Would you ever lose respect for someone for backing down on the beliefs they only one minute before had been staunchly upholding?

Just a curiosity to me.

 

[perks]

sometimes I think people who back down are wishy washy, but then I also think that people who don't have open minds are stubborn asses.

If someone agrees with me because I make a valid point, and there is an understanding or a different way of thinking on their part, then I'm all for them changing their mind.

If they just change it on a whim it's highly aggravating. If they change it because they want to go along with the consensus it's annoying and I don't respect it.

I respect choice and an ability to back up that choice with logical and valid reasoning.

did I even answer your question?

 

[SamEyeAm]

I hope that I'll always be open to learn, which means that I also must remain open to changing my ideas. I respect others who do so more that those who are closed and stick to their point of view regardless of what new information they receive. Like perky, i don't respect wishy-washy people whose opinions change with the breeze. Teh middle ground is a good place to be here, not too rigid and not too unrooted.

 

[cybergirly]

It all depends on the way in which a person changes their mind. If there has been, thoughtful, intelliegent debate and the person says something along the lines of: "I had never though of it that way, but I do see your point." I'll respect there ability to be reasonable, and consider other options. However if it's alot of you're wrong because we say you're wrong, and the person says, "Oh, well if so and so says I'm wrong I must be wrong." Then I have no respect what so ever for them.

Did that make any sense?

 

[KillerMuffin]

Not usually. Most people I've debated with here and elsewhere only change their views when they've given rational thought to the matter. I don't consider adopting a new viewpoint based on convincing arguments and rational thought to be "backing down," only being a thinking person.

 

[Eumenides]

Thanks guys! I am in complete agreement with you guys. I think that it takes a good person to really listen to a person's viewpoint and allow his/her perspective to shift a bit because of the exchange of info.

I just got to wondering how some people might react here if someone came around to their side. I was just wondering if there are some people here who are more interested in fighting than in truly trying to open people's minds.

I'm not saying that's so...just that I wonder about it.