Follow-up to my last question, if you aren't willing to change your opinion on a topic, why should anyone ever

Question

debate you? I always thought part of the reason of a debate was to learn something you never knew.

I was happy to read how many people were open to new viewpoints if the argument was good enough. Still some that never "flip-flop". So why would anyone waste their time on a debate with those people?

Answer 1

That's exactly the reason why I am not affiliated with any party. The main purpose of political parties is to control the way you think and feel. I don't consider myself to be biased, so therefore I can't pick a side. Both sides have excellent points and views. I think things in general would be much better if everyone has an opened mind.

Answer 2

The objective of a debate is to defeat your opponents ideas with your own ideas. Maybe a by-product from a debate is that you do pick up something new. But that's not the primary reason we debate.

I won't debate anyone regarding a subject I know nothing about. If I was interested in a new subject I would shut up and listen to the experts.

Answer 3

there are some people you shouldn't debate.. this is true.. for it will be a rant fest.. and a waste of time. But many times.. .if you can get someone to think about what you have said.. it will mull around in the back of their head.. and eventually they will have an "idea" and it will become their own.

Answer 4

Some people believe what they believe because it comes from people they respect and admire - they think that merely repeating those beliefs will cause others to believe so, too. They do not consider the possibility that those others might have minds of their own and prefer to come to their opinions and beliefs via reasoned intelligence rather than memorized sound bites.

Answer 5

It is easier for people to stick to the little they know rather than go out there and get knowledge because that would force them to reconsider everything they thought they knew and a lot of them aren t ready for that...nevertheless such people ought not to be in politics because politics is all about compromise

Answer 6

The point of a debate is to convince the other person. not to change your mind, or it would only mean that you dont know what you're talking about

Answer 7

My beef isn't with people changing opinions, it's with people making up their own facts.

Every argument in favor of the tax cuts has come true.

Every argument against them has turned out false.

There's no debating that - revenue is up, incomes are up, inflation is down..... The deficit is up but that's because Bush and Congress spent even more than the additional revenue. If we'd increased federal spending at a single digit rate, we'd have a huge surplus right now.

Answer 8

i never find myself swayed by moral claims. it's important to have a consistent system that you can apply to all situations.

empirical claims, however, often change my mind. i'm a big believer that we should always do what brings about the most good. that's a moral claim that no one will ever convince me is wrong.

the empirical claims about how we maximize the good is what changes. i often find myself swayed by the economic analysis of different things. theory often doesn't correspond to reality.

Answer 9

new issues do develop and situations change. other factors are involved and there are no absolutes.

Answer 10

You can debate someone so that they see your point of view. Not to CHANGE your point of view.

I'm too stubborn. I will acknowledge someone's views, but I will never change my own.