Discussing politics and other contentious sunjects online feels to me like it’s counterproductive these days and even though I try not to get suckered in, I often can’t help myself. Usually though I just end up feeling frustrated and sometimes angry at the other person either missing my points or refusing to accept them.
Thinking back to conversations I’ve had here and previously on Reddit, not only can I not remember an example of me “winning” the discussion and the other person changing their mind or conceding the point, I also cannot think of a time where my mind was changed either.
So have you ever begun a discussion online with someone with a different view point to yours and either you, or they, changed the others mind?
Most of the time it doesn’t escalate into a contentious debate, sure. Lots of discussions where the things I read change my view on things, and I’m sure my own comments change others’ view on things too.
But by the time it starts to take on the style of an actual debate, there’s less room to convince someone who feels strongly enough to engage in the debate. Still, it’s worth doing sometimes because in these public forums, the debate might be read by thousands of lurkers, some of whom didn’t feel strongly enough to have a view, but walk away convinced that one of the two sides is more correct.
I know I’ve been convinced of a side while watching two others debate.