Did you ever change your mind on Boards or did someone change yours?

25-06-2015 01:48PM

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Well even I got it so it must be good.

I do find more that I don't go from Black to White, but more to a varying shade of grey.

An example, a couple of months back was the thing about incest. I was always against because potential defects in children and coercion, and so on.

A poster pointed out that supposing it was a same sex relationship and there was no risk of coercion. Waivering

Then someone else pointed out that you could never marry your mother in law. Now I have to say thank fcuk - but if some nutcase wants to why should it be illegal?

Now I'm somewhere in the grey shades on the issue.

I think you hit it on the nose there. I'd say most people see things in shades of grey and the more black and white a thinker you are, the less likely you are to change an opinion.

I've had gut reactions to things, maybe something I haven't ever thought about, like incest in your example. Now my gut reaction is mild revulsion, but my not-thought-out-revulsion obviously shouldn't negatively impact the life of a person or persons who are happy and harming no one else.

You have to apply the rationale to the emotion to see if it stands, which some people simply never do.

ectoraige · 25-06-2015 01:51PM

I used to have some hope for humanity...

melissak · 25-06-2015 02:02PM

Yes I find that too. It is training me to be less personally offended if people don't agree with me. This I believe will stand me in good stead when kids are teenagers. I have changed my opinions on things based on what other people said because something that never occurred to me makes something I thought I knew invalid.

Medusa22 wrote: »

When I first joined boards I was more argumentative and I would get a bit defensive if someone questioned something that I said. Now I try to think about why I feel a certain way about a topic and I also try to see an argument from other perspectives that I get here on boards. I like to read about other peoples' opinions and points of view, and I don't automatically react like a bull to a red flag anymore, I think I'm a bit more balanced and level headed now and other posters have definitely given me insight into different topics that I wouldn't have had and they have changed my mind on certain things, or at least softened my stance. Though sometimes I don't like to admit it at the time :pac:

Knex* · 25-06-2015 02:10PM

Loads, actually.

Even for topics I don't post in, I might enter the thread with a certain viewpoint, but then you quickly get both sides of the argument, or the many side of the argument, and when you can take that info on board, I often find that my initial opinion has changed somewhat.

MrWalsh · 25-06-2015 02:24PM

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

An example, a couple of months back was the thing about incest. I was always against because potential defects in children and coercion, and so on.

A poster pointed out that supposing it was a same sex relationship and there was no risk of coercion. Waivering

Then someone else pointed out that you could never marry your mother in law. Now I have to say thank fcuk - but if some nutcase wants to why should it be illegal?

Now I'm somewhere in the grey shades on the issue.

It wasnt Boards but I had a similar mind change from eeeew on the same issue. I looked up GSA (genetic sexual attraction) and it changed my mind to 'poor things' more so. I think that incest has many shades of grey as an issue.

One thing my mind was changed on by Boards.ie, and there is no one poster in particular I can say caused this but more of a cumulative effect - I had a general sense that most people are reasonably liberal and not hate filled and that really nasty bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia etc were a rare occurrence within society. But over the years I see that a hell of a lot more people hold really awful views than I would have thought. It depresses me. I never know if the person really feels that way or they are just looking to provoke a response so I comfort myself that its hopefully the latter, but even that amount of people trolling is depressing.

A good recent example of what I mean is the marriage equality referendum. So many posters popped up saying disgustingly homophobic things. A shocking number IMO. I notice if you look back at some of the more prolific threads that many of those accounts are now closed, so they just registered to say mean things!

It makes me wonder if I am surrounded by people with horrible views in real life who just dont say them out loud. And that perhaps there are far more crazies out there than I had ever realised - I also feel that way when I read the comments section in thejournal.ie. Its like the online world shows itself as much uglier than the real world, so presumably a lot of people are hiding their true selves in real life which is not a pleasant thought.

25-06-2015 02:27PM

MrWalsh wrote: »

A good recent example of what I mean is the marriage equality referendum. So many posters popped up saying disgustingly homophobic things. A shocking number IMO. I notice if you look back at some of the more prolific threads that many of those accounts are now closed, so they just registered to say mean things!

I think a good few of those accounts probably belonged to one or two people. They think the weight of numbers gives credence to their views or something.

It doesn't.

MrWalsh · 25-06-2015 02:28PM

Candie wrote: »

I think a good few of those accounts probably belonged to one or two people. They think the weight of numbers gives credence to their views or something.

It doesn't.

Maybe, I did notice some very similar posting styles.

Maximus Alexander · 25-06-2015 02:32PM

Candie wrote: »

I think a good few of those accounts probably belonged to one or two people. They think the weight of numbers gives credence to their views or something.

It doesn't.

Agreed.

There are crazies out in the world, but at least the internet helps identify them. Facebook it great for this. Every now and then someone on the fringes of your social group will post something up and reveal themselves to be a hateful moron. It allows you to know exactly how much time you have for that person going forward, and prevents you from wasting it.

25-06-2015 02:36PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Agreed.

There are crazies out in the world, but at least the internet helps identify them. Facebook it great for this. Every now and then someone on the fringes of your social group will post something up and reveal themselves to be a hateful moron. It allows you to know exactly how much time you have for that person going forward, and prevents you from wasting it.

It's always a heartsinker when someone you thought you liked reveals some aspect of their personality that just obliterates the possibility of friendship. Better off knowing sooner than later I suppose.:)

Like a man I worked with. I asked him if he'd any paracetamol for a headache and he said "No, but I've got some <insert homeopathic rubbish here> that's very effective!" Mental cold shower.

NachoBusiness · 25-06-2015 02:39PM

In fairness, anyone who finds that they quite often change their opinion from ones which they initially express on threads, perhaps maybe shouldn't be posting their opinions on threads all that much to begin with (well at least not until the threads are a few days old maybe and they have had time to make up their minds and decide just what it is that they actually think). I mean, fine if this happens now and again, we all have moments where we suddenly see things in ways which we hadn't expected to, occasionally, but if that's happening you 'all the time' well then tbf that is really just indicative of someone that likes the sound of their own voice a little too much and doesn't feel all that strongly about what it is that they are saying one way or the other. A great marker for these people tend to be those that start posts with: "Ohh, I dunno..".

5rtytry56 · 25-06-2015 02:57PM

No, I have'nt really changed my mind, since my gugleguy days.
See a some boardsies having a so called 'change of mind' in boards Prison. Half the time, they're pretending though.

Robsweezie · 25-06-2015 03:08PM

mad muffin wrote:

Yes. No. Maybe.

I don't know, can you repeat the question??

25-06-2015 03:10PM

For me, it's not a boards.ie influence, it's the influence of the internet more generally that has reformed my opinions.

They say that your views harden and become more conservative with age, but I wonder whether that supposed-truism will survive the internet age? I find that, as the internet grows, my ability to try to understand, and sympathise with other people's opinions, also grows.

Of course, events like the financial crisis and seeing the effect it had on friends and family, getting an education, and simply acquiring life experience, has helped snuff-out my more obnoxious opinions.

But the mass-sharing of ideas on the internet, where you can begin to understand the experience and outlooks of people you wouldn't necessarily meet in real life, has had a big impact. I think it's had a big impact on the mentality of society as a whole. Maybe we're more understanding of each other; we don't merely see the world through the prism of our own selfish needs, or those who share our work and social circles.

blue note · 25-06-2015 04:36PM

Constantly I think someone is the stupidest person imaginable. Then someone posts something and makes me change my mind.

Chancer3001 · 25-06-2015 06:56PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Is that because it has creatine in it?

No, it's cos of all the sugar in it.

It's like 35-40% sugar from what I remember.

It was recommended by an mma coach who was already at about 5% bodyfat. He trained about 4 hours a day and needed all the energy he could get.

Me. Not so much. Just needed extra protein.

Robsweezie · 25-06-2015 07:26PM

Akrasia wrote: »

I respect people too much to pander to their stupid uninformed opinion

Obviously, there are disrespectful ways of communicating with people which one should avoid, but one is not obliged to respect opinions. Not all opinions are worthy of respect.

100%, sarcasm generally being one of them. I just cant engage with people whose first language is that kind of sneering. when I see it on thread, I just think ''when you're ready to offer something that isn't wrapped in smartarsery, then we can talk''. when it's in a condescending, patronising tone it's all the worse. it does nothing for the discussion and only reflects badly on the poster. insulting other's intelligence by resorting to such tactics just causes tension and I lose respect for people massively every time I see it. it doesn't make you likeable or smart, just a massive dick. I avoid those posters whose sole purpose in every discussion is to belittle someone's argument with their snide comments. its an epidemic on this forum though. as I said before, the rudeness can often just be frustration of being disagreed with. I think the mentality is ''if I cant have my opinion unchallenged, then im going to go at yours in the most cnutish way possible until you give up''

5rtytry56 · 25-06-2015 07:37PM

Some boardsies create a second account which they post threads as an apparent "bystander" who conveys a neutral attitude towards their own opinion to begin with and then is "won over" to it. I've seen this in certain forums not just AH.

Robsweezie · 25-06-2015 07:58PM

5rtytry56 wrote: »

Some boardsies create a second account which they post threads as an apparent "bystander" who conveys a neutral attitude towards their own opinion to begin with and then is "won over" to it. I've seen this in certain forums not just AH.

that's unbelievably sad and pointless. you have to wonder what the deal is with these types and what they're trying to achieve.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 25-06-2015 08:23PM

5rtytry56 wrote: »

Some boardsies create a second account which they post threads as an apparent "bystander" who conveys a neutral attitude towards their own opinion to begin with and then is "won over" to it. I've seen this in certain forums not just AH.

Robsweezie wrote: »

that's unbelievably sad and pointless. you have to wonder what the deal is with these types and what they're trying to achieve.

I'm not falling for that one, buddy.

Robsweezie · 25-06-2015 09:39PM

Zaylee Pitiful Tuna wrote: »

I'm not falling for that one, buddy.

not sure if being ironic or?

EDIT: yes, yes you are, im slow

Mint Aero · 25-06-2015 09:57PM

Having been voted most influential poster on AH, I can safely say I've change many a mind for the greater good. Even though it has cost me dearly and gained me numerous enemies, namely the PC Brigade and Sheeple, I can rest easy at night knowing I've garnered the love, respect and admiration of so many more.

KingBrian2 · 25-06-2015 10:07PM

Prior to joining Boards.ie I encountered a lot of Trolls. This place is like a refuge, it has the occasional Troll but nowhere like some other sites. I find the debate much more enlightened.

Buona Fortuna · 25-06-2015 10:46PM

Mint Aero wrote: »

Having been voted most influential poster on AH, I can safely say I've change many a mind for the greater good. Even though it has cost me dearly and gained me numerous enemies, namely the PC Brigade and Sheeple, I can rest easy at night knowing I've garnered the love, respect and admiration of so many more.

Did I miss that vote?

PizzamanIRL · 25-06-2015 10:54PM

There have been occasions, that I can't remember the specifics of, but an example would be my brother mentioning something about John Doe, who I had no general opinion of previously, but in my mind I think "John Doe, he's an idiot".

Then I remember that I don't actually believe he's an idiot. I've only been brainwashed from reading about him on boards.

Kev W · 26-06-2015 09:30AM

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Did I miss that vote?

MintAero wrote his name on a piece of paper, put it in a box and took it out again.

Eugene Norman · 26-06-2015 09:41AM

My opinion changes all the time. When the facts change my opinion changes, as the man says.

Not so much on here, but Aonghus Von Bismark has convinced me of the value of blue nun and wrangler jeans.

5rtytry56 · 26-06-2015 11:19AM

You'll influence my opinion with the level of bribe you give me. Don't be stingy.

Menas · 26-06-2015 11:34AM

Menas wrote: »

Yeah, I can change my mind if presented with a good rational argument.
Except for Fluoride !!!

Actually, I am changing my mind on this answer!

Samaris · 26-06-2015 12:01PM

Heh, well, I started a thread about the Angelus bells, which is still ongoing. I originally figured "Eh, no harm in it, may as well keep it". However, some good points were raised about the seperation of church and state and that it does technically go against both RTE's own mandate and the Constitution. So I've changed my mind on that towards "Yes, but it doesn't really bother me".

So there's a recent, if pretty inconsequential example.

mailforkev · 26-06-2015 12:28PM

I like to think that I'm fairly open minded but like everyone else I live in my own bubble of sorts. I've been lucky to live a fairly comfortable life.

Boards has definitely given me an insight into the lives and issues of other people that I may not otherwise have come across.

Some posters have me despairing at humanity occasionally but others have really made me proud of my fellow countrymen and women.

Did you ever change your mind on Boards or did someone change yours?

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