- Yes
- As if
Yes, I do, although very rarely. I was somewhat undecided on the issue of legalizing SSM a few years ago, but the discussions here have made me see that it’s something we really should do.
But I think the most important aspect is getting exposure to, and having respect for, the other side of the issue. For expamle, here are a lot of “lefty” econimic types around here whom I’ve come to respect and whose opinions I would have just dismissed outright not too long ago. It all comes down to a different set of assumptions, and as long as someone is logically consistent within his own assumptions, and is willing to view empirical data objectively, then I can respect that opinion.
Yes, but rarely. Most people don’t change their minds on anything I would say. Much like what John Mace said this isn’t really about changing minds, but rather teaching tolerance. Their is a lot of rhetoric on the internet, flame wars and the like. Its nice to be able to come to a board that at least doesn’t engage in that usually. Its helpful to be shown the other side in an intelligent manner even if it does nothing to change your own opinion.
Plus some people ask really funny questions in GQ.
I wouldn’t say I’ve changed my mind on huge life-changing issues. But I have learned a lot.
I’ve learned
[ul]
[li] To be way more tolerant of religion[/li][li] That it’s perfectly legal and even advised for motorcycles to slip between cars[/li][li] To listen to the other side[/li][li] That people can disagree violently in one place and go another and be best friends[/li][li] That the SDMB combined can come up with anything, even shooting a goat from a cannon.[/li][/ul]
And that’s only some of the things. I’m just listing them to show the kinds of things my mind has been changed about over the years.
Yes, some people seem to have changed their view about transsexuals based on threads in this forum.
There has been a number of people who have mentionned having unertaken dramatic changes in their opinions after reading this board. I wrote “reading” because the people who are actually arguing in GD genrally have deep-seated opinions and aren’t the most likely to change their mind. I doubt I’m going to turn ** Liberal ** into a socialist atheist, for instance.
Personnally, I can’t say I changed my mind about the most important issues. I did, though, about a number of minor ones. I also learnt a lot of things and got a different perception of lot of subjects. Finally, I discovered to my puzzlement that there were people seriously arguing stances that I would have assumed to be at best fringe ones. What I had assumed to be common sense assumptions that no one would dispute turned out to be controversial. This actually happened in the very first thread I posted in.
This board does expand horizons. The one thing I regret the most, though it’s not related to your question, is that it isn’t an international board, with posters coming from a wide range of countries. If it were, it would be the messag board of my dreams.
I would say Yes. Often it is only by degrees and not a full 180 degree turn on an issue. But I have seen opinions changed and I have changed my own on some issues.
Jim
I don’t think I’ve done a radical about-face as a result of anything I’ve read here, but I have become more sympathetic to various points of view, I’ve been made to think about things I might not otherwise have thought about, and I’ve been nudged toward one side or the other on issues I hadn’t yet made up my mind on, or even thought about, before seeing them discussed here.
Not in my state (Minnesota) and in many others.
So are you now for or against goat cannons?
Seriously though, that was a very odd thread. Started in 2000, came back in 2001 and again in 2004. Quite a life.
Absolutely. I’ve gone from being a non-religious Christian to an agnostic (leaning a bit toward atheism more than the opposite.) I’ve also changed my stance on the death penalty from being completely for it to being only conditionally for it (if guilt could be unconditionally proven, I’d be for it; since it can’t be, I’m not.)
Yep. I have been changed by the boards, in concert with real life. I’m sure I’ll continue to change.
Amongst first world countries, there is really only a need for a message board such as this in the USA. Everywhere else, there is more or less agreement that discussion of public policy should be evidence based and susceptible to rational criticism.
The board is a refuge from the anti-empirical, the faith and entitlement arguments and the aggressive ignorance that constitute the large part of the USA’s public discussion.
Definitely (1). This forum, and the board as a whole, have done quite a lot to influence my political views. I’m much more of a moderate than I was even two years ago.
Can I be the first one to call that nothing more than a load of crap?
Christ, I thought I as in a Pit thread for a moment…
I can’t think of any complete turn arounds I’ve done but I have learned a lot and certainly refined my opinions and beliefs due to some intelligent and well informed input from some of the great members of this board.
Isn’t this a poll?
Yes. This board has changed my mind on a lot of stuff.
Ahhhhh…smugness. What a refreshing change.
At first I had thought to say now, but upon reading this thread, I’ve changed my mind. 