Quote (WitchfinderGeneral @ 31 Jan 2022 03:00)
You've been here a while, most of the threads are made by the same people, and it looks like each side is saying the same thing about each side--I'm right, you're wrong.
I can't help but wonder, have any of you actually changed your position on anything after all your time on this forum?
Have you learned anything significant?
Did you switch sides?
Go towards the middle?
This isn't really a thread about your position, but rather, if you've ever changed it, thanks to a thread, a number of threads, or even someone specific on this forum.
My opinion on major politicians has changed quite a bit since I joined PaRD in 2017, as has my understanding and appreciation level of several of this sub's users - sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
On the issues, my opinions have changed significantly less, I'm still largely where I was 5 years ago. And in the few cases where my position on a policy issue has changed, it was due to new info or rl developments, rather than because someone convinced me in a PaRD debate.
This does not, however, mean that spending time here was a waste. Hearing about different perspectives is still valuable and contributes to my understanding of world politics. Generally speaking, I believe that a proper change of position is an unrealistic expectation to have for a simple exchange of arguments. In my opinion, most policy disagreements don't stem from a lack of knowledge of the other side's arguments, they largely stem from differences in one's basic assumptions, values and priorities.