Poll Request: How often do you change your views based on discussions on CP?

[JohnnyB]

I'm sure everyone who posts on CP occasionally has feeling of going in circles when discussing topics with other members or that the conversation consists of talking past each other. Conversely, there can be a lot of very good quality discussion here on CP and I'm sure that there is some worth to the discussions that take place in order to keep people coming back for more.

So, the questions I'd like to pose are:

1. How often have you significantly modified your personal opinions or beliefs based upon interactions with posters on CP who do not share your world view?

Answers for the poll:

I never have
I have made some minor changes on occasion
I have made some major changes on occasion
I frequently make minor changes
I frequently make major changes

Also, a second question:

2. How often have you found evidence that other posters have significantly modified their personal opinions or beliefs based upon interactions with others on CP who do not share their world view?

Others never have
Others make minor changes on occasion
Others make major changes on occasion
Others frequently make minor changes
Others frequently make major changes

This could concern anything from U.S. politics to Bouwmeester’s performance or iOS vs. Android and anything in between.

[Rathji]

I have in a few cases over the years.

9/11 conspiracy theory was the biggest one. I saw Loose Change based on a post here and believed a bunch of it at first, then used the resulting discussion which shows me many more articles lead me to realize it was all BS.

[surferguy]

NEVER - I still think J-Bo sucks

[JohnnyB]

When I think about it for myself, I find CP to be a pretty good source of information for a lot of things and so the information that's shared on here does help to form my views on topics I'm just learning about, but I rarely if ever significantly change views that I hold based upon discussion/disagreement with other CP members.

Although I can't be certain, I think most others don't really change their views as the result of discussions/disagreements with other members either.

[GP_Matt]

I have changed my opinion a few times, mostly on things that I wasn't really aware of before, but also on political views some times. I have even found myself agreeing with something Slava said from time to time.

If Johnny's question is more holistic looking at the value of debate and questioning whether or not it is worthwhile if everyone has firm beliefs though the answer is much different.

When the debate turns into a few people on either side who are passionate I doubt that either side is going to change their mind. The people who may change their mind though are the multitudes of others who read the thread and weren't so firm either way. I think it is something that some people forget when debating online. The goal is to convince the audience, not the other debaters. I know I forget it sometimes and have to remind myself. (Mostly before I hit post, but occasionally after)
That is where I have changed my mind the most; when reading two sides of an argument that I was only loosely aware of.

[GGG]

I think on hockey related things alot of group think happens. When things go way negative or way positive people follow along.

On things i have an opinion on i rarely will change but on things i am less informed on cp will shape my view. I do gain insight to the other opinion though by reading it

[Azure]

Went from extremely anti gay marriage, to pretty pro gay marriage or pro equal rights.

Thanks Rouge.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Azure

Went from extremely anti gay marriage, to pretty pro gay marriage or pro equal rights.

Thanks Rouge.

I, too, was anti-gay-marriage until I got dressed down on CP.

I'll try to remember to post the link later.

[Rerun]

Often. I used to think that going on your first train ride would be pretty exciting for someone but others on here put me straight.

I now know that its not unusual for Catholic Churches to lock their doors when there isn't a mass being held (I grew up in a small town where the church door was never locked).

And I now know thats its perfectly acceptable for someone to low ball you with a completely ridiculous offer for a vehicle that you're trying to sell..... and you shouldn't get mad at them because trying to screw you is just part of the bargaining game.

... big city life I guess... go figure

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Often. I used to think that going on your first train ride would be pretty exciting for someone but others on here put me straight.

I now know that its not unusual for Catholic Churches to lock their doors when there isn't a mass being held (I grew up in a small town where the church door was never locked).

And I now know thats its perfectly acceptable for someone to low ball you with a completely ridiculous offer for a vehicle that you're trying to sell..... and you shouldn't get mad at them because trying to screw you is just part of the bargaining game.

... big city life I guess... go figure

Bit of an axe to grind with CP and the big city, eh?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Bit of an axe to grind with CP and the big city, eh?

Not really.. I can look back and laugh at it all now...
All is good.

[nik-]

I've never really changed my mind based on discussion here, but I may have softened stances and I've at least understood the other side's opinion better.

On a personal level, I was against gay-marriage when I was younger and then realized that it was absolutely dumb and preventing the happiness of others didn't make my life better in the least, so I reversed my opinion in my mid 20's.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

I have definitely gained more of an understanding of other viewpoints at times--and perhaps more importantly I've learned where my own perspective is partial, biased, imperfect and incomplete.

I don't think I often change my mind about an issue that I have thought deeply about--it's happened once or twice, when a poster was extremely reasonable and persuasive. On the other hand if it was an issue that I hadn't thought about yet, and my opinion was in the early formative stages, I've definitely changed my mind.

I think it's a good exercise to ask yourself: what evidence would persuade me that I'm incorrect? I try to ask myself that when I'm in a contentious discussion, but I can't claim I always remember to.

[jayswin]

I never change my opinion on anything because those with opposing opinions are wrong.

[burn_this_city]

I would say yes, I think your opinions tend to evolve when you're exposed to more sides of the equation. I was fairly block headed and opinionated when I first started posting here, but over time my views have softened a fair bit on many things.