Ok, so here’s a big bombshell (for me at least). I officially declare myself an atheist…and it’s because of you people. After months of reading GD threads on this topic, I’m switching sides. When I registered, I was on shaky faith grounds, but this place pushed me over the edge.
What opinions have you changed because of the Dope?
I used to be anti-regulation for all drugs. ALL drugs, prescription, recreational, herbal, snake oil… I believed that claims should have to be substantiated to the extent of truth in labeling laws, and that people’s knowledge of efficacy and side effects should be ascertained with a POP computerized quiz of some sort, but that no limits should be placed on the *informed *use of any substance by a consenting adult - except for driving or operating machinery under the influence as appropriate. Because of some conversations here, I have amended that stance - I believe antibiotics should not only remain restricted, but I believe the standards for their prescription should be strengthened, so that you could only get them in a medical emergency or with a positive bacterial culture.
I don’t believe you. You are pulling our legs…
I’m far more convinced now the War on Drugs is a waste of money and time, and that marijuana should probably just be legalized and regulated, despite the fact that I hate smoking and probably will never smoke weed myself.
I also used to be more of a social conservative and this place has worked a bit to mellow me out into more of a libertarian. 
Too many to list without embarrassment, although not all of them have changed in the direction of the consensus here - in a couple of cases (I’m not going into details), the argument just seems to have made me dig in my heels, against the norm.
That I’m reasonably intelligent. :rolleyes:
I’ve always been a strong supporter of stronger gun regulations and restrictions, but the numerous GD threads on the subject here (many of them from years ago, before subscription) have usually left me thinking that my opinions on the subject are based more on emotion than facts. So, even though I would probably still vote for regulating guns more strongly in the U.S. if I had the chance, I would do so thinking “gee…someone on the SDMB probably could explain to me why this is not going to help.”
So…guns.
~fig
No, really. There were other forces of work here but a lot of it had to do with this place. Mostly, the SDMB’s role was convincing me that it was OK to think what now seems the only sane way to be. It finally threw enough questions at me that I couldn’t answer. Finally, it was some poster (tried search, couldn’t find it) that said something like “I figure I can’t fool an all-knowing deity, so I just stopped trying.” And that did it.
You’ll still see me kick into Christian mode, because this board is STACKED w/ people getting the wrong idea about my former beliefs. I’ll still probably jump in on the side of the Christians because I still have the stock answers memerized, but I don’t believe any of it anymore.
To quote Air America: “Back in LA, I was always the wierdest guy in the room. Here, I’m not even in the Top 10.”
Wow. That is all I can say to that.
Since finding this community, I have found myself really questioning my stance on many things that I thought I was quite staunch about. I love the dope for that.
But your example amazes me because of how long and hard it was for me to come to the understanding that Christianity was simply not right, and how impossible I have found it to change anyone else’s mind, ever. I certainly never even try to anymore, not since I have become mature and jaded enough to know better.
But if I ever lose my mind and get into that kind of conversation with anyone ever again, I will be sure to remember the phrase “I figure I can’t fool an all-knowing deity, so I just stopped trying”
Showgirls and Starship Troopers were actually better movies then I gave them credit for on the first viewing.
I’ve found that too. After over six years of being a Doper – I’m tremendously reassured. 
I think the people here have given me such a broad understanding of some things- pointing out aspects of subjects I would have never thought to delve.
Probably the biggest thing it has done is made me a lot more skeptical in general. Honestly I don’t like to live my life in absolutes, and people that are dead-set on certain beliefs set off alarm bells much more often.
I’ve also been aware of how narrow-minded a lot of people in my own life are. Politically, I’ve probably shifted to the center.
No one could possibly be interested in discussing a treadmill topic for more than two pages.
I’ve been intellectually tolerant of homosexuality since college, but I was raised with a lot of negative programming, so it’s taken many years to get over some of the deeper emotional prejudices that I’ve had since childhood. Surfing the boards has helped drive the point home that gays are actually normal people with hopes and dreams just like everybody else. Big surprise, I know, but sometimes I have to see something to actually believe it.
I was already agnostic when I came here, but this place has strengthened my convictions a bit. I still won’t call myself an atheist though.
That and that similarly…intelligent and rational people actually DO EXIST! 
This is kind of embarrassing to admit, but I have a kind of GQ in my head that I use as a sounding-board. When considering an issue, I compose the GQ, then imagine what the responses would be. It usually allows me to come to a conclusion without actually typing the GQ.
Does anyone else do this, or am I the weirdest person in the room?
Also, though I still don’t favour everyone walking around armed, I have had to realise that my simplistic view of US gun control issues, and the model for gun control I had based on it, couldn’t possibly work.
I used to think that it was inappropriate to stay up until 5:13 AM. Now, thanks to the Dope, I am free from this square-ass, establishment nonsense.
Same here. Though I’m still wholly against recreational drug use, because I think it’s a horrible thing to do to yourself, I have changed my mind on how it’s being legally challenged. it’s not working, it can’t work in its present form, so it’s better to change the rules on the less harmful drugs like marijuana than to be so militant. My biggest problem with my change of mind is now I don’t know where the line is drawn.
Anthropogenic Global Warming. I used think that it was probably true, but I couldn’t back it up. Raising it here has convinced me that not only do I not know but nobody knows and that the pro-AGWers have built a house without any foundations at all.