Have any of you changed some of your views slightly by being here?

Question

I have done some changing of my views by some of those on the other side in here. I have even come up with a new respect for liberals and dems because of some of those people in here. There are still a few select shmucks in here that I still cannot stand.... they fail to see that not all conservatives are mindset on political issues. All in all, this has been an interesting experience in here, does anyone else agree?

john_r_and_brush - Hey, where ya been lately?!

Corrector - I fully agree with you... for once I do :)

Answer 1

No.

Being someone that shares both conservative and liberal views I actually have the best of both worlds.

Answer 2

I wouldn't say a LOT of my views have changed. I will say that I've learned a lot about politics that I didn't know before. Isn't that the point of Yahoo! Answers to begin with?

I've become familiar enough to recognize question titles that aren't worth my time, so I've become more efficient at answering questions that deserve it. The most important thing I learned is that labels are useless. Not all liberals are alike, and not all conservatives are alike.

But as some had said, some arguments I have participated in ended up strengthening my views, and some arguments have changed them. Then again, it's important to remember that it would be a mistake to believe that the demographics of Yahoo! Answers users accurately reflects the demographics of the general population.

I try to use this forum to converse and debate with people that don't think the same way that I do. For example, on the issues of immigration and gun control; I've argued with people that didn't agree with me, but at the end I was able to see it from their point of view and hopefully they were able to see it from mine. Everybody wins.

Answer 3

There's a few conservatives here who have impressed me as sincere people who really do want to understand what's going on in America and around the world.

We all have some basic biases. It's tough to avoid developing some of those. But the thing that separates the sheep from the goats is the desire to see past one's own preconceived ideas. If we're at least willing to examine ourselves... that's 90% of the battle.

That people disagree is fine. What isn't fine is when we become satisfied to live completely alienated from one another. We can do better than that.

My views have changed in some respects. I certainly see more than I did, and I have no problem admitting that conservatives have some legitimate concerns, and legitimate suggestions for resolving those concerns. Mind you, there are an awful lot of people on the conservative bandwagon who just want to vent their own unresolved personal issues. And yes, their are people in the liberal camp like that too.

Good question, and that you would ask it speaks well of you.

Answer 4

Wonderful question! BUT, I have not changed. I stand firm in my beliefs. I look at things from the mindset of everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I may agree, and I may disagree. That's the beauty of being an individual. Granted, I will boldly voice my opinions and beliefs, but I value the differences in others....even though I don't like some of the answers. Being on here has only made me stronger in my beliefs and convictions and has made me want to stand up more than I already do. Once again, wonderful question!

Answer 5

I am always willing to look at both sides of the issue. Somethings on here have made me think about my stance but I have strong beliefs and takes a lot to change that and that has to be based in fact or someone actually trying to make an argument and not just standing on a soapbox. The rantings of some just make my beliefs stronger and those that insult me because my views are different than them make me even stronger in my convictions because their augments seem based in ignorance.

Answer 6

Yes, Much like you, I have run across some very interesting and informed folks in here.(Y/A).
I have gained respect for some of the die-hard righties, who at least can frame their arguments in an organized and coherent manner, and I've also lost respect for some of the younger participants on both sides of the spectrum, because of their questions, some of which are just crap, and some of which are only posted to irritate people they can't compete with intellectually.
Rhetoric alone is Not a question, and if you are getting All your facts from one source,(usually Fox News), you don't have the ammo to get into a battle of wits here.

Oops, sorry I got off on that rant,...I really enjoy this forum, and wish that the idiots of all persuasions would take their crap elsewhere, so those of us that are here to share and learn could enjoy ourselves !
Thanks for another Good One !

Answer 7

Not really... I found here at Y!A Politics what I figured I would find.

Nuts on both sides yes... but for the most part, Americans are not "Right” or "Left" - most Americans are somewhere in the middle...

The whole idea of "Red States" & "Blue States" is bull shiot. I figure if we were to paint our nation by the way most people think, we would be painting with three colors and not just two. Red, White & Blue.

Perhaps this is why I consider myself to be an Independent.

Great Question/Statment BTW...

Answer 8

First let me point out that in political discussions of this kind,one has to make generalizations as one does all the time in our real lives .

While I realize of course that the conservative ideology is broad and varied ,I cannot make such distinctions in most debates or I would be qualifying everything I said which is simply counter productive to the nature of this forum.

To your question.I have not seen my views change as a result of my experience here and in fact many of my views have just hardened as a result of my being here.

I also realize that the board is full of trolls,instigators,anarchists,baiters etc and I must be constantly on guard to not allow this crowd to form my views "of the other side"

Answer 9

In my realm of expertise no. I have studied Islamism and Marxism and their influence for quite some time. The ignorance on the side of the liberals as to the reality of the influence of the aforementioned is really not that new either. I blogged for quite a while before coming to YA.

I must say though that I have come across a few liberals who still practice liberalism in it’s moderate form and have a lot of intelligent things to say but, they are few and far between. Most are typical insult slinging, emotional, misinformed tools.


Ndqbill below me is a prime example (not of tools but, the other)… he has really ticked me off before but, he has made me think as well… I can say I could probably sit down and drink a beer with him.

Answer 10

Well my view that there are alot of narrow minded dumb sheep who believe anything the government tells them and that they hear on tv has been formed.

I realized that people like to be labeled lib or con. I didn't know that. I thought people liked honesty, the truth and sincere intentions but they don't.

They like to argue politically like it's a wrestling league. It's childish and counter productive to any real progress that is positive for ourselves and the world.

The media is encouraging division among americans by claiming everything is partisan. It's not. There is right and wrong.

So I am surprised that there are so many close minded, categorized, stubborn, naive and apathetic people on here who can't even stand when anyone questions authority.

That is sad.

Not too mention 9/11

There is no question that alot of really suspicious and weird things happen on 9/11 and there are alot of people who seem to have a mental block to even admit that let alone question their beloved government.

These are people who truly live the saying ignorance is bliss

Answer 11

I haven't really changed any views, but have made some observations..and confirmed what I already knew.

Between the trolls, ultra left, and ultra right people postings here on YA. I have confirmed there are a lot of weak minded, mentally challenged people on Yahoo Answers.