When is the last time you have changed your mind about something you believed?

[rambling man]

I did this morning. I was thinking about stem cell research while reading the paper. It suddenly occured to me, something someone said on here. We have already become Dr. Frankenstein and violated the sanctity of human life when we first started freezing embryos for reproductive reasons. I suppose it is not that much more grotesque to take some cells from them to try an dfind disease cures. So I changed my mind, although I still don't feel "right" about the whole thing.

I still say that with each step in this direction, we need to take it slow, listen to politicians, ethicists, theologians, philosophers, lawyers; allow a good solid debate each time and keep our eyes on these people. It's when we are not watching that they will come up with something crazy and destructive. Keep a committee with a scientist, an ethicist, a preacher, a lawyer, some federal regulators, and whoever else can help, have this committee breathing down these researchers throats at all times to make sure they are not prematurely taking a new leap without us hearing about it.

So would you rather weigh in on this topic, or talk about some time when you changed your mind recently...it's up to you

 

[Markov Cain]

I used to think less filling.
Now I tend more towards tastes great.

 

[rambling man]

and I used to drink Miller Lite...swore off it forever except in times of emergency

 

[DriveSouth]

I have -

Not in the too distant past, I was anti-abortion and supported the death penalty.

But it occurred to me that if life was precious and to be treasured, then my death penalty views might should be re-considered.


I have and now think the death penalty is not right.

 

[rambling man]

I think the difference with those two is that one group had their chance and blew it while the others had no chance to even begin life

However, abortion is clearly Constitutional, I say let God sort 'em all out in the end.

I think if you rape and/or kill a person maliciously in cold blood then you deserve the pain that you inflicted upon someone else..

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Laurel changed my mind on Napster for a while, when she clued me in to how awful the record companies are. (But, sorry Laurel, I've recently gone back to my first standing: An artist has a right to his intellectual property, even if the practice does make corporate assholes rich. I recently came back to this when I read about feature films being "Traded" on line.)

When I came to California I realized that I could no longer expect everyone to share in my usual round of Rush-bashing jokes and Fundamentalist Christian jokes, because Rush fans and literal Bible advocates are more prevelant out here than in New York. And though I haven't "changed my mind" aobut anything, I have realized that I need to both be more tolerant, and to have better arguments at the ready.

Because of some actions taken by people here I changed my mind about trolls and how to deal with them, and the less said about that the better.

I had my mind changed a couple of years ago at an arts collective meeting about the value of "arts outreach", something I held in high esteem for many years, but now see as flawed, if still somewhat valuable.

I am slowly changing my mind about George Bush, who I still see as an intellectual light-weight, but not a total dope. I agreed with him on the greenhouse gas treaty issue, and I appreciate the care he's giving the stem cell issue. I am happy for his patience and lack of rhetotic. I'd rather have Gore's energy and administration, but I find it harder and harder to actually hate Bush.

I changed my mind about Ralph Nader, whom I liked for years, but who seemed awfully foolish this last campaign, particularly in his silly isolationistic positions.

I chagned my mind about Howard Stern, who's brilliant when he's interviewing Shatner or Duchovony or channeling PT Barnum (but still dull as dishwater when he harps on his staff's stupidity or interviews a lesbian.)

I change my mind whenever I allow my mind to stay open, and the contrary arguments are sound.

 

[DriveSouth]

You asked a question, I answered it. Don't begin stirring up some sort of political bullshit topic now. Just let my answer stand on it's own.

 

[rambling man]

dont be so excitable...i didn't want a politcal post on the death penalty, just commenting on your comment and I planned to leave it at that...agree to disagree and move on

 

[rambling man]

I changed my mind about Howard Stern, too. He has to keep it low brow to maintain his audience but occasionally shows flashes of an extremely incisive mind...I still don't listen to him that much though..actually not at all since I moved back South

 

[Markov Cain]

Ah, finally siesta time...

and the little one is down.

Recently I have changed my mind dramatically on two points.

One being that DCL is one of the better, more intelligent voices on the board and the other being that Siren is a good and reasonable person.

Don't care to hear from either one of those two ever again.

 

[willfulbrat]

I used to thing that if you were really good and kind to people, and thought the best of them, they wouldn't hurt you.

 

[rambling man]

I'm sorry you had your mind changed about that....I hope the process of your mind being changed wasn't too painful. The world can really suck sometimes.

 

[willfulbrat]

Thanks, rambling man. I'm better off knowing the truth, even if it was a hard lesson.

 

[rambling man]

some people will reciprocate your kindness and caring by treating you good, though....don't give up on everyone...although anyone should be wary of other people, at least until you truly know them

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Recently I have changed my mind dramatically on two points. One being that DCL ...

LOL You have to have a mind before you can change it.

 

[rambling man]

gonna have to start putting people in the corner if they cant play nice in my thread

just kidding, flame away if you so desire...putting on my asbestos suit, though

 

[willfulbrat]

Did someone say "flame"? <perk>

 

[rambling man]

well if it comes from you willful, I know it will be fun!

 

[Markov Cain]

Only one is playing.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Neeny-neeny poo-poo.

 

[Ksss]

I used to believe this was a fun place to come to , to sit back, relax and have a few good laughs. Lately though, there aren't many topics to laugh with.

 

[Laurel]

I'll change my mind when I hear a compelling enough argument. I used to be in favor of hate crime legislation - now I'm not (Oliver Clozoff turned me around on that). If I don't believe that government should moralize (which I don't), then it's illogical for me to support laws that punish people for thinking a certain way. (ex. Murder it illegal, and should be - but to punish one person more than another for murdering because the crime was morally-motivated is moralizing. Whether I think racism is wrong - which I do - is irrelevent,)

I used to think that income tax was evil and wrong and all that, but now I see that the benefits that money brings to society (and to me) far outweighs any of my whining about the extra cash. I now see that highways, cops, military, schools, etc. don't grow on trees, and someone has to foot the bill. If I take advantage of these things, it's only fair that I do my part.

I used to be pro-Death Penalty, but the evidence against its effectiveness as a deterrent plus the fact that it costs much more than life imprisonment PLUS the possibility of my tax dollars going to murder an innocent person has changed my mind.

I used to think cooked mushrooms were nasty, but I had some on pizza and they were okay.

I change my mind on all sorts of little things as necessary, but those are the recent biggies.

 

[Demian]

Laurel...

You know I'm one of Your Biggest Fanz...

But you must be in a Different tax bracket than me

Where would we be without taxes? But where Do the taxes go?

Senators should be Volunteer work, since they are Fat Cats who don't do a Goddam' thing...Iz anyone helping our Homeless population? Or does it go OverSeas?

And I'll always be One of Your Biggest Fans

 

[Guest]

 

[Markov Cain]

Funny DCL. That was Closet's exact reaction.

But he and Lavy and Co shut the fuck up until you and Siren came back to egg them on.

Oh well, on with the show you fucking pedophile.