Have you ever changed your mind.......

[Le Chat]

I have been an AB er since 2004 and in all this time, the same people make the same arguments. My question is, has anyone using AB ever changed their opinion, on a subject that they may have felt very strongly about, after reading posts with opposing views?
Speaking for myself, I saw a different side to prison and especially prisoners, after reading posts from a guy called Noxumulos, who doesn't seem to post on here anymore.
....or are most people 'right fighters!' ie, they want to be right at all costs?
I've posted this in News as this tends to be the greatest category for heated debates!!!

[Gromit]

Used to think your posts were a waste of time, but now I think they are OK.

[ruby27]

I haven�t had a radical change, so I have not become a tory voter, who is anti gay and believes in capital punishment. Some of my opinion/s beliefs are to me sacrosanct and it I was no longer to have them, I would no longer be me.

But, some of the posts have stopped me in my tracks. Sometimes because I am so impressed with the way someone has answered and think I wish I had considered that aspect of the debate. (I have some heroes on here).

Others who I might not agree with in their post in its entirety, has certainly made me reflect on my position and have had to modify my opinion and alter it to accommodate new learning. Those are my favourite. It would be very boring if someone posted a thread and then every one answered just yes. I love the challenge and to stretch my mind and others here have lots to offer in the way of knowledge, expertise, intelligence and downright passion.

Some posts were you think oh why bother even joining this, this isn't a debate but a childish slanging match. Last but not least, there are posts who generally are diametrically opposed to my belief systems, who when on here I tend to become more fundamentalist and less tolerant and metaphorically I roll my sleeves up ready for battle. Not much change of altering the view, just becoming more embedded.

[Lonnie]

I have, when someone like Gromit or jno have proved me wrong. not often, but it happens.

But thats what A/B is all about, an exchange of views and beliefs,

[Le Chat]

Gromit...Your post made me smile and chuckle slightly!

[feist]

Yeah recently agreed with Neilzulu on the death penalty (just that one time) but alas, probably never happen again (lol).

[Gromit]

Thanks Le Chat and Lonnie.

Not really changing your opinion, but now and again you get a post which stops you in your tracks because it introduces an aspect that you had never even considered. It may even re-affirm what you already thought but tell it from a completely different angle. I like it when that happens.

Then there are the instances when some clever person introduces a fact or piece of knowledge that is new to you.

I agree the Noxumulos posts about prison were very enlightening (and powerful) and memorable.

[jno]

not exactly, because many of the people I disagree with fill their posts with hate-words like 'scum' and 'that b*tch Cherie', which make me think their minds are so set that they're never going to rethink anything so why should I bother even getting into an argument... But to return Lonnie's compliment, people like him have reminded me that courteous debate is possible and I should be less ready to assume that anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot. So that's a small change in me!

Yes, I enjoyed Nox's posts too. People who claimed prisons were like holiday camps were told very firmly that they were nothing of the sort. The most interesting posts often come from ABers like him who can speak from personal experience, and I've learned a lot from such people. I miss him.