NationStates Jolt Archive

Does anyone actually change their mind about a serious argument after reading an argument on this site? Be it religion, politics, whatever, aren't we destined to repeat the same old arguments, never changing till we get deleted?

If so (and it certianly seems so) what's the point? We are all wasting our time trying to convince others to our way of thinking or poinions because no-one is going to change their mind.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0002F4E6-8CF7-1D49-90FB809EC5880000&chanID=sa008

By the way. The link may not seem directly relevant to this post (although some people do hold pretty stupid beleifs, but enough on that for now) i just meant it to apply to the fact that many people, being a product of their upbringing and surroundings make up their mind and don't change it. And if they do change it it's due to a large change in time, surroundings or personal experince rather than the arguments of someone else.

I agree. Government brainwashing is pretty much immutable. Few people realize the truth when presented with it.

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Free your mind!

I hold an emotivist position. I think our opinions will not change in response to rational argument since they are not based in logical argument, instead they are a product of our mental state, our emotions, what we had for breakfast, etc.
There is no such thing as brainwashing in this context; people can and do side with or against the government, religion, etc. at their own whim. To believe an external source is the cause of an opinion is to remove responsibility from the individual who holds this opinion.

I hold an emotivist position. I think our opinions will not change in response to rational argument since they are not based in logical argument, instead they are a product of our mental state, our emotions, what we had for breakfast, etc.
There is no such thing as brainwashing in this context; people can and do side with or against the government, religion, etc. at their own whim. To believe an external source is the cause of an opinion is to remove responsibility from the individual who holds this opinion.

seems about right. It's not government brainwashing, just that people tend to base everything they beleive in on their personal experiences and rationalise away any inconsistencies. Government may have some affect, if only because it pervades so many parts of our lives.