I have discussed many topics in online opinion. Although I have learned from others my views have not changed. I won’t state them again as most of you already know them. However, I was wondering if these discussions have changed anyone’s views. If there is anybody out there who has changed their opinion on anything as a result of discussing matters in the Forum I would like to hear from that person.

No david f, nothing I have seen here has changed my ideas or opinions, reinforced them if anything.

However I have learned some things here, which has changed my ideas on which groups deserve more, & which deserve less help.

No david f, I’ve always found OLO to be a merciless war of words fought from very entrenched positions.

I don’t particularly want to change my position on anything. I’m proud of my prejudices which I have cultivated over many years. I don’t sit on fences.

Dan

In my time on OLO, I have never known anyone to change his or her mind. This why it is ridiculous for posters to carry on arguments with each other. We all know what everyone thinks about everything. I am not the slightest bit interested anymore in arguing the toss with people who disagree with me. I prefer to support and encourage people who think the same way I do. I rarely, if ever, read the posts of people whom I know are critical of my opinions.

I am highly unlikely to agree with davidf, for instance, but I am happy to give my opinion on his threads; I just will not argue with contrary posters or david himself. The is no point. We all have opinions, and that's that.

Dear David,

Thanks for this discussion.

In all the years that I've been on the forum I have
to admit now in looking back - I have changed in
my thinking at various times.

I once was convinced that the forum was a great place
to discuss issues. I admired the diversity of opinions.
And I was made to question some of mine. And also to
do research on subjects that I knew little about.
It was a learning process.

Then things got nasty - with labelling and insults and
disrespect where I began to think that the forum was
a snake-pit of old conservative ignorant people
with a distinctive set of traits including conformity,
intolerance, and insecurity who saw the world in very
rigid and stereotypical terms.

People who tended to think in terms of general categories
if only to enable them to make sense of the world by
simplifying its complexity.

Over time, however, I found that these people were capable
of surprising. And it made me aware of my own biases and
prejudices. I learned that my pre-conceptions were not always
correct and to try to not be so judgemental of others.
To look to myself as well - and try to see things from
another's point of view. Try to understand where they were
coming from.

I am no pundit and I am still a work in progress. As I
grow older I realize just how much I still have to learn.
I'm still negotiating my own voice and still learning to
be secure in speaking my own mind.

One thing I have learned is that if your intention is not
just to win the argument then you can feel good that you
have spoken your mind without malice or anger but just
from the depth of your own truth.

cont'd ...

If we only listen to people whose views agree with
ours - then it becomes merely an echo-chamber.
From which we don't grow or learn.