I suspect the word "debate" is misleading you, because what you just said above actually agreed with my point. You changed your mind because of talking to people, not being shut out from them.
I suspect the word "debate" is misleading you, because what you just said above actually agreed with my point. You changed your mind because of talking to people, not being shut out from them.
Uh, the subject was "changing the mind via debate" not meeting other people and experiencing an alternate view.
It wasn't just "talking" to people, but it was walking in their shoes, experiencing their lives, sharing their lives, their woes, their hopes, breaking bread, drinking coffee. working with them. I even became a shop steward.
No talking to people is not the answer. I do realize that once a person takes a position, they feel that they have to defend it. The inability to admit error is not restricted to fascism or the right wing.
Sobering up, meeting people on the other side, required me to admit that the first 50 years of my life, or at least that portion which was ideologically engaged, was wrong. And frankly I also find, now that my critical reasoning skills are recovered, that I have serious problems with some doctrinaire leftists, but still consider myself a progressive.
You obviously didnтАЩt read what I wrote before. A good debater isnтАЩt someone who tries to convince you with facts or tries to call out your bullshit or judges you. A good debater is someone who talks to you and shares their point of view and invites you in to walk in their shoes. But it requires another person with an idea different from yours - the idea that anyone can magically тАЬchange their mind on their ownтАЭ is misguided.
I suspect the word "debate" is misleading you, because what you just said above actually agreed with my point. You changed your mind because of talking to people, not being shut out from them.
Uh, the subject was "changing the mind via debate" not meeting other people and experiencing an alternate view.
It wasn't just "talking" to people, but it was walking in their shoes, experiencing their lives, sharing their lives, their woes, their hopes, breaking bread, drinking coffee. working with them. I even became a shop steward.
No talking to people is not the answer. I do realize that once a person takes a position, they feel that they have to defend it. The inability to admit error is not restricted to fascism or the right wing.
Sobering up, meeting people on the other side, required me to admit that the first 50 years of my life, or at least that portion which was ideologically engaged, was wrong. And frankly I also find, now that my critical reasoning skills are recovered, that I have serious problems with some doctrinaire leftists, but still consider myself a progressive.
You obviously didnтАЩt read what I wrote before. A good debater isnтАЩt someone who tries to convince you with facts or tries to call out your bullshit or judges you. A good debater is someone who talks to you and shares their point of view and invites you in to walk in their shoes. But it requires another person with an idea different from yours - the idea that anyone can magically тАЬchange their mind on their ownтАЭ is misguided.