I wanted to open up a thread to actually help promote more debates in this forum. The task is very simple:

Give some examples where you have changed your view on a issue or political standpoint, when and how did this happen and what was the reason.

This will help clear the misconpetion out there that it is useless to talk about politics because you can never change the guy you are talking to. Stubberness as i see it leads to flaming (an example would be the typical american bashing thread), no matter how much logical proof or rational statements you bring forth it will not have one affect on the guy you are talking to... its sad.

me, i'm not shy to tell someone he has a good point, even when it opposes me, i dont see that much around here, people stick steadfast to their pre-concieved never-to-be-changed views

i'll put some examples of mine later on... i have many in which i have changed based on well made arguements by opponents (be it articles or face-to-face) but now i gotta get to studying for my damn math exam tomorrow

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If God is the answer, it must have been a very stupid question.

well, yes i kind of agree with you, but not entirely, what i think you should do (if you feel like it) is basically re-edit your post, and create a BASIC guideline for this thread, and the moderator can make it a sticky, outlining how to go forth in laying out your opinions, and your beliefs, and to keep it a little constructive since these topics are a little more indepth and emotionaly stimulating than lets say, chill-out topics. you know, rules on how to post in here and shit, because alot of people just blurt out whats on their minds, which is just usually alot of crap that comes from their parents or their friends or that drunk guy that was at the bar the other day spouting all this anti-(place a country name here). anyways, just nickel. peace.


-ftnb

good point,
i am guilty of this myself at times, however its b/c i always find myself simply defending the US or "correcting" people... i don't often comment in areas i agree with, b/c the point has already been made (i.e. half the threads in here).

One person i will openly credit with having a point is ftnb in the america bashing forum - due to his own personal sufferings and my lack of knowledge on the subject. I will admit fault on my part when its due, but usually if i am not imformed on a subject i simply won't post.

But great idea izzy, maybe we should get a guidelines type of sticky thread going....

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Peace.

I agree Izzy!

I've changed religious veiws, political veiws, sicial veiws, pretty much my entire mentality over the years through discussions and debates. I've also changed several of my friend's ideas about things drastically!

I think my reason for this is that my ideas are based on everything I've ever heard and what I like from each. I don't say I'm a strict Republican, but some of my ideas are from pretty much every party on earth.

When you start to use your own mind instead of someone else's great things can happen

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"Oh NO! It seems the world has been infected by a disease called shitty music.
We've had innocculations for some time now but the populace keeps refusing it.
You don't want it? Fine. Give me all the vaccine and a needle and I'll fucking overdose.
It'll be the best day of my life."

Yeah, great idea for a thread izzy.

I agree that this is a problem, people refusing to change their beliefs, even when presented with completely convincing arguments, and sometimes even after they have been proven wrong.

I've done this in the past, not neccesarily proven wrong, but shown another side of an argument, and then changed sides.

If you want an example here is one. Many local groups around here have been protesting the fact that Vancouver and Whistler BC may be chosen to hold the 2010 winter olympics.

Here is some information on this:
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/features/vancouver2010/

At first, i was of the opinion that the olympics would be a good thing, they would bring money to the area, promote sports, provide new infrastructure elements in the province, highway upgrades etc.

then i read this article:

http://www.creativeresistance.ca/aw...obert-smits.htm

Wonderfully well written and very convincing, i completely flip flopped my stance on the issue. Now, i am firmly against it.

I am open to rethinking my opinions, especially when i am not knowledgable in the subject, as i was in this case.