SRL Archive - Discussions & Debates

I see many heated debates in this section of the forums. I would like the pose the question: Why? Why do many of you people feel the need to express your ideas, and why do you try so hard to make other people see it the way you do? I have yet, to EVER see anyone say something along the lines of: "Oh wow, you know, I have never looked at it that way, you're right, you have changed my mind". Is that the kind of response you are looking for when you make a debate thread?

Why do you want them to change their mind? The world is a competitive place, it does you no good to make someone see things the right way. If you were competing against someone for a job to feed your family, would you tell him to make sure to wear a tie? Assume you knew in head of time that the prospective employer never hires anyone who doesn't wear a tie. It doesn't make sense.

In conclusion, why do many of you try so hard to "educate" people who disagree with you?

I don't do it to change people's minds, I just do it for fun. I like having to think, and to see the different arguments people have. Sometimes I do have a "wow, I've never looked at it that way before" moment, but it's almost always because of someone arguing for the same side as me.

well isnt it human nature to want to be in control and be right



im not usre about that though so dont get mad if im wring

i belive nietzsche said something along the lines of: no matter what you say, someone will try to refute it. and its true, its human nature to want to be right xP

and debateing on these forums is also kinda useless (though fun) because everyone thinks so differantly. there are athiests, theists, evolutionists, creationists, materialists, mystics, etc. Also everyone has had differant levels of education in logic, philosiphy and science.

From: lancerawks aka Lance
its human nature to want to be right xP

so i was right about at least half of it

Because the world is very screwed up and there's nothing interesting left to do.

true, i debate here more for the entertainment of knowing what other people think. i dont seriously sit down and expect my mind to be changed. i guess cause this forum is filled with a bunch of pre-teens, if i was realy wanting to learn something id resurch it or talk to one of my friends in university who studys this kinda stuff.

and j_pizzle i think your fully right, people do want to be in controle.. and if you sit down you could probably atribute alot of things people do to them trying to take back some controle in there life. stuff like being anorexic, ive read psycologists saying that anorexia dosnt even have to do with being attractive, its more girls feel they need to feel like they have controle over there lives, and there body is something they can controle (and the media showing that girls should be discustingly thin dosnt help either)

It's not really about hoping to educate people, its more about discussing things with someone of an opposing view to see as many sides of the argument as I can, personally. Thinking one way about something without considering the alternatives is pretty stupid.

Although, for some topics it is about education. Threads like is weed harmful/internet censorship/people refuting science etc, where people have these views due to lack of education, where by educating them the world becomes a better place - the less misinformation thats spread, the more intelligent the human race become as a whole and the closer we get to a utopia, where science makes the rules and uneducated beliefs are banned

From: lancerawks aka Lance
and debateing on these forums is also kinda useless (though fun) because everyone thinks so differantly. there are athiests, theists, evolutionists, creationists, materialists, mystics, etc. Also everyone has had differant levels of education in logic, philosiphy and science.

That's exactly why debating on these forums is not useless. There's so many people with so many different views on life who are willing to share their thoughts, that it makes for some really interesting discussions.

From: bullzeye95
I don't do it to change people's minds, I just do it for fun. I like having to think, and to see the different arguments people have. Sometimes I do have a "wow, I've never looked at it that way before" moment, but it's almost always because of someone arguing for the same side as me.

This.



Also, I find the best way to check if you believe good things is to test them against people you disagree with.

If your ideas are sensible and rational, they will survive, otherwise they will be torn apart.



And yes, I have seen people change their minds, although its very subtle and easy to miss.

Often people just spot posting in the subject, and when that subject comes up in another thread, they hint that they've changed their mind.

Or if someone says something like "those were good points" and then sings a slightly different tune for the rest of the thread.

Once I actually had someone tell me something like "Okay yakman, I didnt know it was that way". They pretty much admitted defeat and never posted again in the discussions and debates section. I wont say who that is because I think they did a pretty cool thing that took a lot of courage, and I'm not going to gloat about it.



Also I've got some advice for you all.
"I wont change anyones mind" is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Once I actually had someone tell me something like "Okay yakman, I didnt know it was that way". They pretty much admitted defeat and never posted again in the discussions and debates section. I wont say who that is because I think they did a pretty cool thing that took a lot of courage, and I'm not going to gloat about it.

Hey don't take all the credit for it :D

From: The Claw
Hey don't take all the credit for it :D

you dont know who I'm thinking of.

From: Yakman
you dont know who I'm thinking of.

I've got a fairly good idea who it is, unless more than 1 person did that

Because thats the game I play.

I read the title of this thread… then said, "Hah, can't happen."

If the purpose was to change someone's mind it'd be called a crusade instead of a debate.

From: n3ss3s
If the purpose was to change someone's mind it'd be called a crusade instead of a debate.

Lol, :p good one Rep++.

You can only get smarter by playing a smarter opponent.

If you are arguing with an intelligent person on a certain topic, then you will learn from their argument and next time it crops up you can have some new argument material against what they was saying last time.