Have you ever actually been persuaded/persuaded someone else in an argument?

[Redalgo]

I picked, "Yes, I sometimes change my opinion," and, "Yes, but I almost never sway other people."

For instance, in political debates people have convinced me to change positions before on the issues of abortion, affirmative action, anti-terrorist monitoring, gun control, international trade, multiculturalism, the war in Afghanistan, and progressive taxation. If anything the selection of Option 7 is iffy because I cannot remember an occasion on which I convinced someone else to adopt one of my positions. It's probably occurred at one point or another though. xD

[Redalgo]

Are you a former neoconservative, Redalgo?

I was a Trot, democratic socialist, then social democrat before arriving at my current ideology.

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On the issues aforementioned, succinctly, my shifting positions were something like these:


Reduce human population --> woman's choice --> discourage third-trimester abortions

Pro-affirmative action --> anti-affirmative action --> wavering in-between --> repeat twice

Spy on suspected enemies of the Revolution --> protect privacy --> balance privacy and security

Confiscate all guns --> heavily regulate guns --> lightly regulate --> moderately regulate

Protectionist / neo-mercantilist --> strictly fair trade --> mostly free trade --> moderately fair trade

Crush religion and archaic customs --> preserve threatened cultures --> mixed stance

America! [INKS] YEAH! --> immediate withdrawal --> gradual, phased withdrawal

Very steeply progressive taxes --> high flat tax with large "prebate" --> steeply progressive taxes


There have been quite a few other strange transformations in stances over the years. lol ^^

[Redalgo]

To be persuasive in political debates one must avoid triggering the unconscious prejudices and biases of their counterpart, framing ones points using words and arguments they can relate to and appreciate as opposed to tripping their brain's automated defenses with certain phrases or tones which almost invariably lead to that other person fighting tooth and nail to rationalize their way into "winning" the conversation instead of having an intelligent, given-and-take, open discussion about the issue at hand. It is all about the symbolism utilized - folks are not purely logical critters.

I like the quote, "Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected." Yet that in itself is not enough. The message has to be presented attractively, and the messenger needs to present their self more like a friend than a passionate enemy or fiery preacher. In practice I do not focus on persuasion though, believing it is best left to each individual for people to decide for themselves what to think and believe. I merely like to present my point of view, respond if responded to, and otherwise leave folks be as they are.

Well, that and I'm not as skilled and wise a communicator, scholar, or theorist as many people around me.