NationStates Jolt Archive

purely in the interests of science...has internet debate ever convinced you, personally, of anything at all? if so, what?

Yes. It convinced me to convert to Agnosticism, then Atheism, then back to Christianity, now I'm back at Agnosticism...

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?

If only choosing religions was as easy as choosing liquor.

There's no such thing as an internet debate; only a selection of people talking across each other.

it made me pro-choice and in general seeing peoples responses online has made me more critical when I see/hear things it also helps me see the other point of view which can just strengthen my opinion.

There's no such thing as an internet debate; only a selection of people talking across each other.

haha, so I've heard. after seeing yet another abortion debate in which both sides looked like idiots and nobody seemed to change their mind, I was just curious.

I became an atheist after trying to defend theism on an atheist usenet group.

Yes. It convinced me to convert to Agnosticism, then Atheism, then back to Christianity, now I'm back at Agnosticism...

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?

If only choosing religions was as easy as choosing liquor.

Rum...no...no...Vodka!

mixed drinks and religious syncretism work well. depending on my mood I pray the rosary or pray to african pagan gods. of course, while basicly everybody ever conquered or enslaved by a catholic (half the world...) is syncretic between christianity and paganism...I've never met a syncretic atheist+christian...unless episcopalians count.

Yes. I used to hold many silly views and think of myself of a communist (granted that was when I was fourteen), thanks to internet-people pointing out where I am being dumb I was able to correct my beliefs.

I think that I now have a fairly cohesive political belief system, but doubtless my opinions will change throughout my life, and it is likely that some of these opinions will be due to the influence of the internet (as it makes up a significant portion of my political interactions).

Yes, I have been convinced in Internet debates on a number of politically significant topics.

My ethical positions, however, have merely been clarified by discussion; not really shifted.

Yes. It convinced me to convert to Agnosticism, then Atheism, then back to Christianity, now I'm back at Agnosticism...

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?

If only choosing religions was as easy as choosing liquor.

choosing liquor is one of the most difficult things i do every day, should i have a rum, no whisky, hmm no i might go gin, no, no this morning i think i'll have a vodka.

i just stick with atheism. if only i could stick with one liquor life would be much easier.

I became an atheist after trying to defend theism on an atheist usenet group.

YaY, welcome friend to our club, Live for today my brother!!

Rum...no...no...Vodka!

mixed drinks and religious syncretism work well. depending on my mood I pray the rosary or pray to african pagan gods. of course, while basicly everybody ever conquered or enslaved by a catholic (half the world...) is syncretic between christianity and paganism...I've never met a syncretic atheist+christian...unless episcopalians count.

It's really fun, actually. I can get all the hot Catholic schoolgirls because I've read the Bible, and I don't have to give two s***s about it because...well, I have serious doubts about every religion.

My opinions have been swayed, but I've never done a complete 180 on an issue.

usually a minor point in a broader debate. but, yes. usually happens when i learn something new where i'd be arguing a point relying on several pieces of info and it turns out that one or more of them is erroneous or i misinterpreted it. although obviously on matters of interpretation i'm less easy to persuade.

it made me pro-choice and in general seeing peoples responses online has made me more critical when I see/hear things it also helps me see the other point of view which can just strengthen my opinion.

Pretty much the same for me (save the pro-choice bit)...I'm all for seeing other people's points of view, and if I'm wrong in my facts, assumptions, etc., well...it's good to keep learning.

Having said that, anytime I hear someone assert "I have a ph.D. from Harvard", I assume that means they dropped out of community college; when someone says "I was Marine Recon", it means they didn't make it through boot camp...etc. So internet debate certainly has its drawbacks. Although I'm a tad cynical, and should maybe give people the benefit of the doubt at times...

Yes. I became more of a leftist thanks to NS.

Pretty much the same for me (save the pro-choice bit)...I'm all for seeing other people's points of view, and if I'm wrong in my facts, assumptions, etc., well...it's good to keep learning.

Having said that, anytime I hear someone assert "I have a ph.D. from Harvard", I assume that means they dropped out of community college; when someone says "I was Marine Recon", it means they didn't make it through boot camp...etc. So internet debate certainly has its drawbacks. Although I'm a tad cynical, and should maybe give people the benefit of the doubt at times...

I feel compelled to point out that ivy leaguers tend to be insufferable snobs, and that calculus is no less calculus in a community college than yale...but that's just me being disgruntled.

Briefs are clearly > Boxers.

Briefs are clearly > Boxers.

Obviously not. Boxers let 'em swing in the breeze.

Obviously not. Boxers let 'em swing in the breeze.

Well if you wanted that, freeball.

No way man, I'm fucking unwaiverable. Like, you know, like, a fucking EGG.

Stopped being a pacifist and became a trot after debating on the revoboards.

My understanding has been deepened and my views focused, but never a complete change.

Stopped being a pacifist and became a trot after debating on the revoboards.

what's a trot?

Stopped being a pacifist and became a trot after debating on the revoboards.

oh yeah, i've become less of a pacifist from debates online. also influenced by RL people pointing out that i'm a bit of an aggressive little bastard to be a real pacifist though.

oh yeah, i've become less of a pacifist from debates online. also influenced by RL people pointing out that i'm a bit of an aggressive little bastard to be a real pacifist though.

I remember someone telling me once, I don't recall in what context, that pacifists were some of the most internally violent/passionate people he'd ever met. this holds true for me. if I weren't a pacifist I'd likely be making molotov cocktails or something.

what's a trot?

A trotskyist- a type of revolutionary communist (the best type).

A trotskyist- a type of revolutionary communist (the best type).

oh. I was going to guess it had something to do with him, but around here people barely know what communism is - let alone realize there are different types. from what I recall, I like trotsky. he was by far the best charactor in "animal farm", to say the least. didn't he have an affair with frida khalo?

oh. I was going to guess it had something to do with him, but around here people barely know what communism is - let alone realize there are different types. Lol, yeah. I wish I could see their expressions when Kropotkin or Bakunin is introduced into the discussions.

I have apparently become less extreme.

I can almost pull out 2 specific people who have contributed to that, the rest of you are just hiliarious at your attempts. ;)

I doubt I've had my mind changed by any single debate, but I think that debating has slowly changed my mind over a long time.

Its made me less conservative.

Yes, apart from getting a better understanding of a lot of issues, it has swayed by opinions on some things, the only very significant thing has been my opinion of democracy, although not a full 180

And its a lot better on the internet, IRL i just "shut up communist" most of the time, although i have managed to persuade a few of my freinds...

Yes and no.

On one hand, the point of internet debate is that there is no point.

But people do occasionally come forward with very valid points, and I keep an open mind on most things. There are a few I'm not on but that's because I've thought about it, considered facts and made a judgement call.

I'm not going to be right on all of them of course, and neither do I expect to be.

Much of my political opinions have come about through dialectic discussions I have had on NS. I take a stance and ride it until it is dead, or I will play devil's advocate and see what arguments I can force into contradiction.