Have you ever had your mind changed by threads on here?

poundapunnet

The discussions on AH and elsewhere on boards can get a) pretty heated and b) pretty repetitive. It got me thinking, has anybody actually ever changed their mind based on a thread here, or anywhere else online?

Myself, I don't really think that I have. The things I feel strongly about I haven't really flip-flopped on since I've left my teens, though I do like forums like this for giving me an insight into why people feel the way they feel if they feel differently. Certain things that I don't feel particularly strongly about or which are complex issues I've learned a lot about on here or taken a position on the argument, and even debating the things that I do feel strongly about I think that I've been compelled to more fully consider my position.

I'm going to have faith in ye all and assume that this won't turn into "you're the baby killing drug dealing feminazi anti-theistic PC brigade" VS "you're racist homophobic bible-bashers". Come on, we're better than that.

Turtwig

Abortion, by Zombrex.

Intelligent Design - by a combination of posters. Was duped by the aethetics thinking it had some plausibility. Not one of my proudest moments.

Social Inequality - SponsoredWalk and a few others who's names I can't think of.

Some various things on politics here and there (not in the actual politics forum mind you).

Nuclear Power- Ninja900 eisraob (or something) and a few others (again apologies for not giving credit where's due.)

Crime rates, punishments, sentence duration that sort of stuff - Peregrinus.

There's a few other things too that I can't think of right now.

stefan idiot jones

No, still blinkered.

XIXIX

No. Never!! Actually, come to think about it; yes. Yes I have.

uch

No absolutely never, but, oh hang on, maybe why?

The Diabolical Monocle

AH isn't about changing your mind ... thats for quitters.

You have to dig in deeper, weasel harder and deny every fact outright.


BTW You misspelled 'flat' further proof that your 'sphere' earth idea is nonsense.

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

Nope. Anything I've read on Boards just reinforces my beliefs and reminds me of precisely why I adopted them.

poundapunnet

The Diabolical Monocle wrote: »

AH isn't about changing your mind ... thats for quitters.

You have to dig in deeper, weasel harder and deny every fact outright.


BTW You misspelled 'flat' further proof that your 'sphere' earth idea is nonsense.

You had better have some peer-reviewed papers for that scurrilous accusation. You post-hoc strawman.

dpofloinn

No I only come here to force my opinions on other people

uch

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller wrote: »

Nope. Anything I've read on Boards just reinforces my beliefs and reminds me of precisely why I adopted them.

Who did you adopt? a baby Gerbill ?

kneemos

poundapunnet wrote: »

You had better have some peer-reviewed papers for that scurrilous accusation. You post-hoc strawman.

Every time I hear peer reviewed I automatically take the opposite view.

poundapunnet

Turtwig wrote: »

Abortion, by Zombrex.

All jokes aside, I'm not going to go searching through 17,000 posts so do you mind me asking which way your change of opinion went? It's the probably the main thing where people fundamentally disagree and a lot of discussion after those fundamentals is a bit pointless, and the thing that people get their knickers in absolute knots over.

Turtwig

Pro-life -> Pro-choice.

Lingua Franca

Here? On the acceptablity of TV spoilers. Possibly some other things which escape me for now.

On other forums and with other topics, for sure.

Such is the beauty of dissent. Keep an open mind and you can learn and develop. I like debating and discussing with people and I strongly feel that debate and dissent is important in democracy and development.

--LOS--

On boards in general yes. You can't really make up your mind on something unless you have really thought about it, information people post can make you think. Some people are incredibly stubborn and would sooner fight their corner than consider their opinion and change their mind. But everyone has that ability to change their mind, and it shouldn't be seen as a negative that your opinion on something changed, that's only to be respected imo. I wish people would put their egos aside and read more things with an open mind.

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

uch wrote: »

Who did you adopt? a baby Gerbill ?

Seems you forgot the first half of the sentence, as you read the second.

Lingua Franca

Turtwig wrote: »

Pro-life -> Pro-choice.

I also went from pro life to pro choice after debating with other people on a forum almost two decades ago. I realised I was arguing from a socially pressured emotional standpoint with no thought given to reason or logic when someone said "You do realise that no one, even pro choicers, actually want any woman to have an abortion, right?" No, I hadn't realised that, because I believed that they were all baby murdering psychos, and not people with full compassion for those in the most desperate of circumstances.

poundapunnet

kneemos wrote: »

Every time I hear peer reviewed I automatically take the opposite view.

Ehm, why? I wouldn't automatically take the opposite view, but do try not to take 'peer reviewed' as validation of my views if I don't understand the paper linked.

Turtwig wrote: »

Pro-life -> Pro-choice.

That is very interesting! I'm involved in a lot of abortion rights and lefty organisations and most of what I hear is people going the opposite direction as they get older, to be honest it gets boring after a while and you get sick of preaching to the choir even if it's what you fervently believe. I would like to get some details from you at some point. On an abstract level I do like having that debate and in principle I'm open to changing my mind

Edit apparently I've misread 'from pro-life TO choice' as 'pro-life is more than pro-choice'

WilyCoyote

I must thank AH for changing me. I've become more stubborn. Go boards.ie

meoklmrk91

I don't know if I have had my mind changed on anything really. But I think it's certainly made me come at things from a different direction, I always thought I was right and would easily get heated in an argument, now I can have a debate about pretty much anything both on here and in real life without loosing the plot, attack the post not the poster has really made me a better debater for sure. It has taught me that everyone has a valid opinion and its important to try and listen and see where they are coming from. And most importantly that I am not always right.

poundapunnet

--LOS-- wrote: »

On boards in general yes. You can't really make up your mind on something unless you have really thought about it, information people post can make you think. Some people are incredibly stubborn and would sooner fight their corner than consider their opinion and change their mind. But everyone has that ability to change their mind, and it shouldn't be seen as a negative that your opinion on something changed, that's only to be respected imo. I wish people would put their egos aside and read more things with an open mind.

The main thing that I've taken from boards is that there are idiots on either side of any debate that will argue that black is blue if it means that they can get a dig in.

kneemos

poundapunnet wrote: »

Ehm, why? I wouldn't automatically take the opposite view, but do try not to take 'peer reviewed' as validation of my views if I don't understand the paper linked.



That is very interesting! I'm involved in a lot of abortion rights and lefty organisations and most of what I hear is people going the opposite direction as they get older, to be honest it gets boring after a while and you get sick of preaching to the choir even if it's what you fervently believe. I would like to get some details from you at some point. On an abstract level I do like having that debate and in principle I'm open to changing my mind

Edit apparently I've misread 'from pro-life TO choice' as 'pro-life is morpe than pro-choice'

Possibly because people throw them out and expect it to be taken as gospel,plus I hate the term peer reviewed.

uch

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller wrote: »

Seems you forgot the first half of the sentence, as you read the second.

So it was a Gerbill !

poundapunnet

kneemos wrote: »

Possibly because people throw them out and expect it to be taken as gospel,plus I hate the term peer reviewed.

So don't take it as gospel. That's exactly what I said. Nobody's making you.

Rosy Posy

I didn't think I was a feminist, but through a discussion in tll I realised that what I thought feminism was and what it actually was were two different things, and it turns out that I was a feminist all along...my mammy will be so proud .

--LOS--

poundapunnet wrote: »

The main thing that I've taken from boards is that there are idiots on either side of any debate that will argue that black is blue if it means that they can get a dig in.

ye that's true, such is life :P

But what bothers me more is getting accused of forcing an opinion on others. Are people so worried about being brain-washed by reading a post? I've no intention of forcing an opinion on anybody, all I can do is give people information, share my own opinion, and then they can do their own research and make up their own mind.

Sir Arthur Daley

I didnt think Keith Barry was a real magician till I was convinced here on AH.

--LOS--

Rosy Posy wrote: »

I didn't think I was a feminist, but through a discussion in tll I realised that what I thought feminism was and what it actually was were two different things, and it turns out that I was a feminist all along...my mammy will be so proud .

Ye I think that's one a lot of people could change their minds on. People view feminists as being anti-men, when it's really just about gender equality, does that sum it up pretty much?

poundapunnet

--LOS-- wrote: »

ye that's true, such is life :P

But what bothers me more is getting accused of forcing an opinion on others. Are people so worried about being brain-washed by reading a post? I've no intention of forcing an opinion on anybody, all I can do is give people information, share my own opinion, and then they can do their own research and make up their own mind.

Exactly! I'm generally a fairly lefty person but I have some pretty right-wing views too, I dislike getting lumped in with one or t'other. And I only love having proper dispassionate arguments with people because I want to understand. I'm not forcing my beliefs on anyone, and nobody is forcing them on me

RDM_83 again

I can't remember which user posted a bit about the trauma of adoption even if it was willing, that made me think.

On AH though no, I have become more informed about stuff from other boards forums but never had my views changed properly

poundapunnet

--LOS-- wrote: »

Ye I think that's one a lot of people could change their minds on. People view feminists as being anti-men, when it's really just about gender equality, does that sum it up pretty much?

Absolutely honestly, I'm a vegetarian lesbian feminist and I totally understand people who meet the criteria not wanting to identify with the names. Just like someone who's a Christian wouldn't want to identify with George Bush or something.

Yes I'm a feminist but I have no interest in a movement which says that men can't be raped, all penetrative sex is rape, math is sexist, shelters for male victims of domestic violence are sexist, white women are as equally victimised black males, preferential treatment should be given to mothers automatically in custody cases, sexism only applies to women etc. Everything I've just said has been said by prominent feminists in the past ten years.

Hell yeah I'm a feminist, insofar as I believe that society is set up to think of me differently if I'm a woman, and that everything has been and still is (though it's changing) inclined towards men.

#shouldn't have quoted LOS
#whatever
#I had thoughts about stuff
#drugs

Da Shins Kelly

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

I don't know if I have had my mind changed on anything really. But I think it's certainly made me come at things from a different direction, I always thought I was right and would easily get heated in an argument, now I can have a debate about pretty much anything both on here and in real life without loosing the plot, attack the post not the poster has really made me a better debater for sure. It has taught me that everyone has a valid opinion and its important to try and listen and see where they are coming from. And most importantly that I am not always right.

+1 for this. Especially the attacking the post not the poster bit. It really does make you better at arguing your point when you have to focus on what someone is actually saying rather than resorting to pettiness. Makes you much more skilled at forming a coherent opinion, I think.

I've certainly read plenty of stuff on here that has made me think a lot. Plenty of posts by Wibbs have stood out to me on more than one occasion as being quite informative on topics that I wouldn't previously have known too much about.

--LOS--

poundapunnet wrote: »

Absolutely honestly, I'm a vegetarian lesbian feminist and I totally understand people who meet the criteria not wanting to identify with the names. Just like someone who's a Christian wouldn't want to identify with George Bush or something.

Yes I'm a feminist but I have no interest in a movement which says that men can't be raped, all penetrative sex is rape, math is sexist, shelters for male victims of domestic violence are sexist, white women are as equally victimised black males, preferential treatment should be given to mothers automatically in custody cases, sexism only applies to women etc. Everything I've just said has been said by prominent feminists in the past ten years.

Hell yeah I'm a feminist, insofar as I believe that society is set up to think of me differently if I'm a woman, and that everything has been and still is (though it's changing) inclined towards men.

#shouldn't have quoted LOS
#whatever
#I had thoughts about stuff
#drugs

we sound quite similar :eek:

Maid of the Mist

I'm a liberal - I support gay rights, women's rights, pro-choice and all the usual Leftie hobby horses. I used to support Palestine as it was the "default" Leftie position. But then I thought about it: the Palestinian authority are the most fundamentalist, right-wing, ultra-fascist, intolerant group out there and their ideology is totally at odds with my liberal beliefs. They hang gays, oppress women, persecute non-muslims and want to implement shariah law including segregation of children based on gender.

So yes, education and debate has helped change my mind on a topic.

Buroschaf

poundapunnet wrote: »

The discussions on AH and elsewhere on boards can get a) pretty heated and b) pretty repetitive. It got me thinking, has anybody actually ever changed their mind based on a thread here, or anywhere else online?

Myself, I don't really think that I have. The things I feel strongly about I haven't really flip-flopped on since I've left my teens, though I do like forums like this for giving me an insight into why people feel the way they feel if they feel differently. Certain things that I don't feel particularly strongly about or which are complex issues I've learned a lot about on here or taken a position on the argument, and even debating the things that I do feel strongly about I think that I've been compelled to more fully consider my position.

I'm going to have faith in ye all and assume that this won't turn into "you're the baby killing drug dealing feminazi anti-theistic PC brigade" VS "you're racist homophobic bible-bashers". Come on, we're better than that.

Yes, Wibbs changed my opinion about wolves.

Grayson

Turtwig wrote: »

Abortion, by Zombrex.

Intelligent Design - by a combination of posters. Was duped by the aethetics thinking it had some plausibility. Not one of my proudest moments.

Same here but on a different forum. My opinions changed over a few years and a lot was through them being challenged on-line.

I will still admit that there's a nice simplicity and prettiness to intelligent design. It doesn't prove a single thing, but it is pretty.

Rosy Posy

--LOS-- wrote: »

Ye I think that's one a lot of people could change their minds on. People view feminists as being anti-men, when it's really just about gender equality, does that sum it up pretty much?

I thought I couldn't be a feminist because I embody a lot of traditional female roles- SAHM with a big family, and enjoy baking and crafts. My mam was a libber to whom feminism meant going to college and aggressively pursuing a career in a male dominated field. The thread made me realise that we can both be feminists- it's about choice and respect. Of course there are nutty extremes that give the rest of us a bad name but there are odd jobs everywhere.

Legs.Eleven

Yeah, a good few times believe it or not.

Muise...

Maid of the Mist wrote: »

I'm a liberal - I support gay rights, women's rights, pro-choice and all the usual Leftie hobby horses. I used to support Palestine as it was the "default" Leftie position. But then I thought about it: the Palestinian authority are the most fundamentalist, right-wing, ultra-fascist, intolerant group out there and their ideology is totally at odds with my liberal beliefs. They hang gays, oppress women, persecute non-muslims and want to implement shariah law including segregation of children based on gender.

So yes, education and debate has helped change my mind on a topic.

Which threads had education and debate that led you to the conclusion that supporting the right to nationhood of Palestine means supporting the current authority (which is a bit too busy to be hanging gays and all that)?

Links234

I've had quite a lot of people tell me that I've helped change their minds about transgender issues. That made me feel pretty good

Balmed Out

Had my mind changed about plenty of things, I'd hate to feel I'm not willing to have it changed.

Lot of posters love to argue and ignore any debate especially with anything political. Emotive subjects like abortion annoy me no end as people constantly try to debate non points. No one's pro death and anti choice. Besides a few religious nutters for most it's just a question of when dose life start.

YFlyer

When a poster with a view that may be counter to mine ends their argument with the word 'fact' has got me to change my view point.

The King of Moo

I've become convinced that that dress is too sexy for his sister.

retalivity

Yes, at least 300 times in the Conspiracy Theory forum alone

arybvtcw0eolkf

Links234 wrote: »

I've had quite a lot of people tell me that I've helped change their minds about transgender issues. That made me feel pretty good

When I read the title of this thread your username came to mind straight away.

I've never had any harder & fast opinions on transgendered issues, but I'll admit I quietly giggled when I seen transgendered people ~ not anymore and I'm a lot more tolerant and understanding now.

Kevhog1988

I presumed we were a nationalist/republican country as a whole but ive noticed the sheer volume of people who have massive objections to sf/republicans embracing politics

kowloon

theemigrant wrote: »

I presumed we were a nationalist/republican country as a whole but ive noticed the sheer volume of people who have massive objections to sf/republicans embracing politics

Did you change your own position based on Boards?

Pwindedd

I don't think I've ever done a complete U turn, but I have accepted that the opposite point of view is just as valid as my own. As long as it's presented eloquently and without any malice. Just don't be telling other people how to live their lives - that grates on me something terrible.

pablomakaveli

Links234 wrote: »

I've had quite a lot of people tell me that I've helped change their minds about transgender issues. That made me feel pretty good

I don't know any transgendered people and haven't every really met any so it is good to hear your opinion on those issues as someone who is transgendered. I'm sure you provide the same insight for a lot of other posters like myself as well.

Czarcasm

Pwindedd wrote: »

I don't think I've ever done a complete U turn, but I have accepted that the opposite point of view is just as valid as my own. As long as it's presented eloquently and without any malice. Just don't be telling other people how to live their lives - that grates on me something terrible.

Irony

But no, I can't say I've ever had my opinion on anything changed here on Boards. I've listened to plenty of people, and sometimes applied their advice to other people in my own personal life, but more times on here I've noticed that it's less and less about discussion (encouraging everyone to have a say and give everyone the opportunity of a fair hearing with the aim of fostering understanding), and more about what some posters think is a debate, which is more like a mud flinging match.

Very hard to learn anything when everyone is shouting, and even harder again to learn anything when people feel unable to contribute to a discussion if they feel they'll be ripped apart for not being able to express themselves eloquently enough to meet other posters 'standards'.

Duffman K

I remember one thread about private secondary schools that completely changed my mind about them.
Not too much else other than that