Is There Anything To Be Gained By Debating?

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by BobbyJoe, Feb 19, 2019.

  1. Vegas giants

    Vegas giants Banned

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    I agree. On tv they try to slant the debate either left or right and present it as news.

    It is deceitful propaganda
     
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  2. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I generally hate conversation. Most folks want to reminise, vent or babble in an echo chamber. I enjoy conversing in this setting because its actually engaging.
     
  3. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This is not debating... debating is when you have a panel of judges and each party have about 20 minutes to state their case.... THAT is debating.

    This.... this is online arguing and insulting, with some mud slinging and trolling for dessert.
     
  4. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Well that's sad... conversation can be really sexy... even when it's not... you miss out on all the body language
     
  5. cerberus

    cerberus Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I couldn't agree more. Despite PF's weird 'rude words' lexicon, this is the most respectful discussion forum I've ever been a member of - or of which I've ever been a member, to put it grammatically correct! :mrgreen:
     
  6. hudson1955

    hudson1955 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I doubt it. But I feel better commenting on things I feel strongly about.
     
  7. Vegas giants

    Vegas giants Banned

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    Conversation is sexy. But politics is landmine territory. In person ...even on here...people take it to personal.


    This is supposed to be fun....not work
     
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  8. hudson1955

    hudson1955 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    It becomes personal when liberal news and progressives call moderates and conservatives names. And twist the truth. Conservatives/Republicans are not constantly in the street protesting or confronting democrats in Congress, ever wondered why? Tell me why?
     
  9. alexa

    alexa Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    What I think can be gained is your own knowledge and understanding. I think a lot of people use the forum more as a social forum and then there is them and us and as you say a slew of insults. I also am fascinated at the way people in the US seem to really see things as US or Them, being Republican or Democrat. Possibly this is a new thing in politics representing the US and Them which seems to be being promoted in society in general.
     
  10. Vegas giants

    Vegas giants Banned

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    Because conservatives are to lazy to get off the couch and challenge the government to do better. Progressives have been at the forefront of every single civil rights advancement this country has ever had.


    Go ahead. Deny that
     
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  11. Derideo_Te

    Derideo_Te Well-Known Member

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    The positives, as have already been mentioned above, tend to outweigh the negatives IMO. Venting, relieving stress, learning, sharpening one's own skills and coming up with better arguments to support your positions all fall within the range of positives.

    The negatives are usually as a result of a childish need to "win". Puerile comments like being "owned", "TDS", "triggered" and insults of that nature are more often as a result of the person posting them actually losing their argument rather than "winning".

    Another negative is the deliberate use of inflammatory emotive terminology in order to provoke the other person into responding with a rule violation so that they can be reported.

    Your question with respect to "anything to be gained" is interesting since what is largely unknown is that forums like these are monitored by outside agencies as a means of gauging how certain policies and political positions are being perceived by the electorate. The degree of interest and the responses are measured as though we are all in a focus group. It is entirely possible that some threads are started for exactly that purpose.

    So we might not change the minds of our opponents in the debates but our opinions are seen and noted by others outside of this forum.
     
  12. Derideo_Te

    Derideo_Te Well-Known Member

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    :applause:

    Excellent point!

    Change happens because people want change and it won't happen unless they get off their butts and make a noise about the change they want.

    What happened between November 2016 and November 2018 was exactly that. Progressives wanted change and they set about making it happen. They are really only just getting started.

    Worth noting that the original Tea Party prior to 2008 was started as a means to change the status quo on the right. It was subsequently hijacked by the GOP establishment and used to obstruct and oppose the ACA. Curiously enough those same people who were against it are now all in favor of the ACA now that they have realized what it actually means to have affordable healthcare. To their credit their got off their butts again and strongly objected to the GOP wanting to repeal it because they did NOT want to have deal with unaffordable healthcare.

    So while it is true that Progressives are at the forefront of every civil rights advancement there are those on the right who also want change. They just take a little longer to catch up and realize what the Progressives are advocating is for the benefit of ALL of We the People.
     
  13. Reasonablerob

    Reasonablerob Well-Known Member

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    Always, reasonable discourse is the essence of civilization
     
  14. BobbyJoe

    BobbyJoe Banned

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    Ironically, the right changed things in what seems like the biggest way ever.....even though the idea was to go backwards (when everything was "great").
     
  15. ocean515

    ocean515 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Sure there is.

    First and foremost, many people can become more informed, if they approach issues objectively.

    Second, gaining knowledge on the information that is being spread in the public sphere can help formulate ideas on how to deal with it.

    Third, anonymous debate sheds light on how ideas and agendas are spread, and how credible the sources for information are.

    The last thing anyone should expect on sites like this is to change someone's position. There is very little humility on sites like this.
     
  16. ocean515

    ocean515 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I deny that absurd claim.
     
  17. doombug

    doombug Well-Known Member

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    Yes there is something to be gained. In my case, trophies!
     
  18. ocean515

    ocean515 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    A campaign slogan is not a replacement for the reality of the Progressive movement.

    The Progressive movement uses fear and intimidation to pound people into submission and seeks to confiscate and divide to achieve it's objectives. There is nothing in the Progressive movement designed to benefit ALL of We the People. That is a lie.
     
  19. Pants

    Pants Well-Known Member

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    I don't think so. Many of us - from all sides - have chosen our political party of favor after consideration, contrast and comparison. We choose that which represents our own political views. Then there are others who are legacy party followers, believing what their parents/ancestors/community believe. In either case, the views/values are entrenched. In the former, they have made a considered choice and, in the latter, they seemingly gave up their choice.
     
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  20. Vegas giants

    Vegas giants Banned

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    Deny the sun rises in the east if you like. Lol
     
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  21. Derideo_Te

    Derideo_Te Well-Known Member

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    FTR I ignore the fallacies from that poster since they are a complete and utter waste of time IMO.
     
  22. ocean515

    ocean515 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I only deny things that are absurd and patently untrue.
     
  23. Vegas giants

    Vegas giants Banned

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    Thank you for your opinion. Lol
     
  24. Vegas giants

    Vegas giants Banned

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    Wise advice
     
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  25. hudson1955

    hudson1955 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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