What’s the value of this forum?
We all love this board, and enjoy the debates. But, in the end, does it really make any difference?
In other words, have you ever been so influenced by posts here that you have completely changed your mind 180 degrees about the topic? I will admit that I probably have not.
If I decide to post something, it is almost always on threads about which I already have strong opinions, and so I try to convince the entire world that I am right. But, since I am already a “believer” ,I tend not to be as open as I should be to Dopers who disagree with me.
On topics where I have less interest,or less knowledge, and therefore no strong opinions, I hope I am more open minded.So maybe I actually learn something, and maybe even put in enough effort to think and form a new opinion on a subject that I previously ignored. So,in such a case, this board has proved its usefullness. We all live and learn, right?
But there is a difference: In this case, I am learning something new and making an informed opinion about it. (Hurray for me!) But in the original case-( i.e. where I already feel so strongly about an issue that I post my thoughts) -I am usually NOT open enough to be convinced that I was wrong.
How many of us Dopers have been so convinced by someone else’s post that we have changed our own mind about the issue?
(I know, this forum isn’t the place for polling–but the issue here isn’t a statistical poll, it’s a general debate over the effectiveness of Great Debates.)
I do not think that have altered (radically) any opinions (for those not in the know, my opinions are known as facts ;)), but have been forced to think through and justify those opinions many times.
That in and of itself is priceless. I do not think it comes down to being open minded, some posters are not. But it is challenging and most importantly forces us to think. That, IMO, has more worth than actually changing minds
I find Great Debates to be an excellent way of keeping track of the latest developments with the major issues of the day. If december crows about how Fox News has reported that “suspicious trailers” have been found in Iraq, there’s usually a correction posted by someone else within a few hours – something that I wouldn’t have learned about if I had just stuck to the mainstream media.
As for changing views, I’ve refined some of my opinions based on the things I’ve read here, though probably not to a degree you were looking for. And I find watching the various viewpoints on an issue get shredded apart to be very educational in identifying the flaws of each.
I haven’t changed my mind about anything here yet, but I have, in the past, changed my mind about issues because of debates. I figure I’ll change my mind about something here someday. I just haven’t been here long enough yet!
I have never ‘gone over to the other side’ (i.e. completely changed sides), but I have on occasion nuanced my previous opinion. More information tends to do that for you.
Absolutely. I don’t know how many times I have started reading a post with the opinion that the OP was a fairly rational person, only to have decided by the time I got to the end that the OP was, in fact, a total loon.
I cannot say I have made a 180 degree turn in my opinions because of what was said in this forum, but I have made so much as a 90 degree one. Certain facts posted here have made me re-evaluate my position. Not change it, just look at it from another perspective.
Ocassionally new information comes up that I haven’t seen yet.
When I’m reading somone’s opinion I deduct points for use of adjectives and adverbs. The greater the number, the less inclined I am to listen. The more sarcastic someone is, the less I respect the opinion, even if I agree with the argument.
I have decided subjects were more important than I previously realized.
I think it’s interesting that there at least a dozen posters with whom I agree 100 percent on some issues, while on other issues, we don’t even come close. It’s kind of fun to see a name and wonder if my response will be “Right on, Bro/Sistah!” or “Are you out your mvther-fvcking mind?”
I can’t say that I’ve changed any major opinions. But I have certainly formed opinions about subjects that I formerly didn’t have enough information to have an opinion on. And I’ve also refined lots of opinions.
I also want to echo rjung in saying that I find GD to be an invaluable ‘clipping service’ for the topics of the day.
The Straight Dope Message Board has showed me the other side of things- that nothing in the world is polarized and you can have people who strongly favor/oppose just about anything with fairly good justification either way.
It has certainly made me more aware of the world, though there are many things that I’d rather have not been aware of. I’m all for fighting ignorance, but sometimes ignorance is the only thing keeping people from going bonkers over things they have no control over.
I have to agree with the posters who have mentioned that the boards have helped them see more sides to issues. For example, I had a habit of expecting Christians to be anti-gay, and tarring all Christians with that brush. I’ve learned here that there are some Christians who are supportive of gay causes, and some who are working hard right alongside us to get gays the same rights as every other citizen of the US.
That’s put me in the surprising position of defending Christians when I’m with gay people. But I’m convinced that, if we stop hating gay people and start hating Christians, we will have gained nothing.
I owe that bit of insight to the debates I’ve seen here. And particularly to Polycarp.
Certainly, on more than a few occasions have I gladly (and hopefully graciously) accepted that my position on certain subjects has been wrong. Most often it has occurred when I’ve made a subjective assessment of some situation far, far, away from my lovely safe and cozy home here in Australia.
I personally don’t care too much for debates revolving around lifestyle issues - and categories I’d include in that are sexual preferences or religious outlooks. Quite simply, I don’t open those sort of threads at all because my innate policy is one of tolerance and “judge not and you won’t get judged yourself” etc.
But as for geopolitical issues? Man… I can’t begin to thank some guys like Tamerlane or tomndebb or Collounsbury as “easy to nominate” examples. (And forgive me gentleman if I’ve embarassed you there with such praise), but it’s true you know? Guys like that have a really profound and healthy understanding of history - and best of all - unlike many Americans who could rightfully be accused of being somewhat insular (at least in terms of non American cultural knowledge) such posters provide a magnificent knowledge base for me to ponder as I go on my daily cycle rides to stay fit.
It occurred to me tonight on one such ride, odd as this might be, but in many respects, the quality of conversation I have on this board is demonstrably superior (in terms of proven strike rate) to that which I would have if I went to a local bar and tried to strike up similar such conversations. Now this is really embarassing for me because I always swore that I’d never become a computer chat junkie, and yet here I am basically admitting I don’t have much tolerance for twits anymore and I’d rather talk to you guys (at least regarding weighty subjects…)
For that, my fellow posters… I thank you.
I hope that in future, on rare occasions, I might be able to provide an Australian perspective on things which might also prove to be equally valuable.
As a general rule, learned the hard way at that, I avoid discussions/debates that are primarily belief based. Even when it’s strongly held opinions, I’m leery. Personal tastes discussions interest me since that’s not so threatening, part of the landscape.
Every time I feel tempted to toss in a couple of coins on some hot issue, I refrain for at least a count of 10, more often just mulling the idea over for a while. If I still feel strongly enough to want to post my ideas, usually by the time I return to the topic somebody else has said what I would have. Saved by the wait.
Ethilrist said it best for me above – just a case in point.
I have changed my view on “oriental” versus “asian”. I’m still disappointed in the debate or the reasoning behind it, but now accept that Miss Manners would use “Asian” rather than “oriental” when referring to this ethnicity in America.
Absolutely! Some in which I have participated…more in which I only read. A few were a complete reversal of an idea, most were simply alterations in my outlook AND many were educations pertaining to my own ignorance.
For all of these things, I wish to say thankyou fellow Dopers.
The boards are working, slowly but surely. “It’s just taking longer than expected”.
I would add, anyone who cannot learn something here is ignorant beyond all repair.
