Biased opinion

[BWS]

I really hate it when you try to debate something with someone and they have such a biased, predetermined mentality that its like talking to a child. Ever happen to you? Youre damn straight it has! So, lets just see what happens here. I imagine that a few of you just might have something to say...call me crazy; go figure.

[poxpower]

When in such debates, have you ever though that you might be the one with the biaised opinion?

That's like saying "did you ever notice how sometimes, people are stupid and I can't make them agree with me?", but how do you you aren't actually the stupid one?

Like people who call other people stupid are often the stupid ones.

[BWS]

At 7/20/03 03:29 AM, poxpower wrote: When in such debates, have you ever though that you might be the one with the biaised opinion?

That's like saying "did you ever notice how sometimes, people are stupid and I can't make them agree with me?", but how do you you aren't actually the stupid one?

Like people who call other people stupid are often the stupid ones.

Trust me, I know. "stupid people dont think theyre stupid; they think everyone else is" ...Ive heard the quote before. And trust me, I understand the difference between being biased and opinionated. Some people on the other hand stand blindly behind theyre views; they dont quite realize that they arent taking into account the fact that there is another side to the story.

[poxpower]

Hey, I wasn't quoting anything. I just figured it out ( like it's that hard).

It's pretty obvious we're on the same level on that anyways. It's just funny how you KNOW you are not stupid if you aren't, yet a stupid person also KNOWS they aren't stupid..but they are.

Catch my drift? Like, I KNOW that I'm not stupid, and it's true, but someone else who might be stupid would think exactly like me, cept they'd be stupid anyways.
Hard to explain...

[bumcheekcity]

I know what you're saying. I don't like debates against religious homophobes, because all they say are 'God condemmns it.' That's it.

[karasz]

everyone has a biased opinion whenever you get to arguing them...

except for a select few that can debate both sides equally well...

not that it really matters cuz when debating how many times have you ever made the person you are arguing with agree with you??

[Ted-Easton]

When a person says "This is what I think and you can't change that."

They're consciously deciding not to listen to anything that is contradictory to what they believe. There could be a mountain of proof that they're believing a lie, but they've decided that they won't be swayed.

[aviewaskewed]

At 7/20/03 12:13 PM, karasz wrote: everyone has a biased opinion whenever you get to arguing them...

except for a select few that can debate both sides equally well...

not that it really matters cuz when debating how many times have you ever made the person you are arguing with agree with you??

All good points. I mean yeah, I agree it's no fun to debate ideas with someone, and they won't concede you may have a point, or even try to consider you're view on the subject, but such is life, I don't let those kids of people get me all bent out of shape, it just makes me more respectful of the people who honestly would like to have a civilized discussion or debate about our ideas.

[bumcheekcity]

At 7/20/03 12:13 PM, karasz wrote: not that it really matters cuz when debating how many times have you ever made the person you are arguing with agree with you??

Not many times, but it has happened. Swaying opinions is the best part of being 14.

[TheShrike]

The problem isn't so much biased people. Everyone is biased in some way or another. If no one was biased, this forum would have 0 topics and replies... Perhaps it wouldn't even exist.

The problem is people who blindly hold onto what they believe.

Having blind faith in ideas is a rather idiotic way to live your life, because you so easily dismiss anything that could put your faith into question. See the problem? If some one could present a watertight arguement for racism, I might be persuaded to become a racist pig. Chances that that will happen are -ZERO-, but I'm willing to listen, and perhaps ridicule those who try.

In other words, I believe my ideals and my beliefs are sound and solid, but I'm not afraid to concede they might be faulty or even wrong. And that I might also be wrong.

I think a few people here should remember before the war in Iraq, when I went from adamantly against it to being in minor support of it.
Today I hear tales of forged documents, unread reports and faulty intelligence. I see Bush pointing the finger at the FBI and CIA~ who merely shrug as if to say 'whoa.. my bad'...

Perhaps I was wrong to let myself believe that the war wasn't such a bad idea after all.

And that is what the unlistening debaters here fear. They fear being wrong. They fear it so much, they will not concede, they will not listen. So, when you try and debate someone who will not give even an inch... they're really just afraid.

[AbstractVagabond]

Am I wrong to assume there's no such thing as an unbiased opinion? All opinions has bias in it. But I know what is being discussed and that is stubborn stances. While I try to have an open mind, I do fall into this stubborn trap at times. Maybe more than I think. Sometimes the view is better from outside. Anyways, it's not the stubborn stances that bother me, it's when they try to force that stance on others. Usually, they go hand in hand. Anyone with such stubborness would force their opinions that other must agree with or else.

BTW, the most likely time I would become stubborn and get on my high horse is when my emotions get in the way and I can't think straight. Being human only gets me so far.

[BWS]

At 7/20/03 02:41 PM, TheShrike wrote:

Well said Shrike. Youre very right about what youve said. Its not really having a biased opinion persa, its just that when youre predetermined about weather this stance is right or not, you dont get the full picture. People need to understand that just because something is what it is, it doesnt always imply what they intend it as; they warp facts into things that suit the needs of their debate, and write off any other interpretaion of it that doesnt agree with theyre stance...its "obviously" blah blah blah, or something similar.
I went on a tangent, but whatever, its true.

[JMHX]

At 7/20/03 01:42 PM, Ted_Easton wrote: When a person says "This is what I think and you can't change that."

They're consciously deciding not to listen to anything that is contradictory to what they believe. There could be a mountain of proof that they're believing a lie, but they've decided that they won't be swayed.

I finished my debate on abortion with the girl who wanted rape to be the fault of the woman and thus not a crime, and the following gems came out of that:

"Dogs don't get abortions, how are we any different?"

"You go ahead and cite your Supreme Court cases and your big law words, I'm going to let god guide me."

"The Supreme Court doesn't mean anything if it's against the will of God."

[bumcheekcity]

Isn't the worst thing when they're stubborn and religious though? It's impossible to argue with someone who insists 'God Condemns it/them.'

[Explodapop]

At 7/21/03 12:37 PM, bumcheekycity wrote: Isn't the worst thing when they're stubborn and religious though? It's impossible to argue with someone who insists 'God Condemns it/them.'

Wouldn't the question: "And how do you know God exist?" stop their mouth? No, because Jesus did miracles and yat,yat,yat.
There is one thing I see repeatedly; that some very non-christian ppl deny everything in the bible, even questions if Jesus lived. I think this is too stubborn. Although you don't like something, you can't say nothing of it exists. Althoug most of the stuff in the bible are very questionable, the rough lines are true. But certain things can be denied very well without beeing stuborn and idiotic at all.

--------

having rock solid opinions is very stupid, but I don't think the ppl that have them are stupid, just their opinions.

My opinions sway as the situation is. I think to come anywere here in this obscure and almost ridicoulous world, you have to be flexible, but also strickt. And maybe the most important: Unerstand when you were wrong.
You don't get much suport if you only think the same all the time. But if you sway too much about stuff, you don't become creidble and "weak". And not realizing your mistakes make you look even more stupid.

[AbstractVagabond]

At 7/21/03 12:37 PM, bumcheekycity wrote: Isn't the worst thing when they're stubborn and religious though? It's impossible to argue with someone who insists 'God Condemns it/them.'

Usually, those who're stubborn are religious. Pretty much a hand in hand type thing.

[BWS]

At 7/23/03 12:55 AM, OSC wrote:

At 7/21/03 12:37 PM, bumcheekycity wrote: Isn't the worst thing when they're stubborn and religious though? It's impossible to argue with someone who insists 'God Condemns it/them.'

Usually, those who're stubborn are religious. Pretty much a hand in hand type thing.

Even though im religious, I have to agree. Its fair to say that faith is the factor at hand though.

[public-enemy1]

At 7/20/03 03:11 AM, BWS wrote: I really hate it when you try to debate something with someone and they have such a biased, predetermined mentality that its like talking to a child. Ever happen to you? Youre damn straight it has! So, lets just see what happens here. I imagine that a few of you just might have something to say...call me crazy; go figure.

Yeah, its like talking to me :p

By the way, nice signature pic... rock on michigan

[JMHX]

At 7/21/03 10:59 AM, -PZY- wrote:

At 7/21/03 12:37 PM, bumcheekycity wrote: Isn't the worst thing when they're stubborn and religious though? It's impossible to argue with someone who insists 'God Condemns it/them.'

There is one thing I see repeatedly; that some very non-christian ppl deny everything in the bible, even questions if Jesus lived.

I'm going to have to borrow a page from Eddie Izzard here, because frankly he's right: I believe Jesus did live, he was an interesting kind of guy who had a lot of views and beliefs in the Gandhi and Nelson Mandela type area, and people felt threatened by that. Had they had a gun, they probably would have shot him as happened with Gandhi, event though that was just one lunatic.