12-30-2004, 08:15 PM
Minionman,Dec 28 2004, 06:38 PM Wrote:...I think their are a number of factors in "discussing" issues in a reasonable way. I started my debating at an early age, with my parents as my foil (poor them).
Usually in political arguments, peopel with more extreme views do more arguing than people with middle views. This seems to happen because people with more extreme views believe them stronger, so have more of a reason to argue them than people with less extreme views. A big chunk of people with less extreme views also aren't as interested in understanding or agrguing issues, so they will find it harder to jump into arguments about something when the more extreme views people have their arguments/slogans are already thought out and well tested. The middle people tend to get attacked by everyone with extreme viewpoints, so it's easier sometimes to get associated with a side. This seemed to happen when the communists took over in Russia, although there is a lot more to it of course.
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My father loved to argue, but he hated to be wrong. Since he was a 250 lb truck driver he didn't need to be, and I always let him win no matter how nonsensical his argument. I knew the argument was over as soon as that vein would pop out on his very muscular neck. I must confess that it was a sick fascination of mine to see how quickly I could get that to happen. The winner was, "Dad, why is it better to be dead than Red?" >rumble< >Rumble< Run!
My mother was the opposite case. The minute it began to look like an argument she would just stop, much like the character "Penny" played by Holly Hunter in "O' Brother, Where Art Thou?". "I've said my peace, and counted to three..." The discussion would end and we would do it her way, or else... [Enter, The Father, redfaced, a vein in his neck is bulging noticably]
My point is that the participants need to be willing to engage in the debate, and be open to the idea that what they believe might be wrong. Often very opinionated people with extreme views are very capable of expressing their point of view, but are unwilling to do so except to those of a like mind who will not upset their extreme world view. Temper that myopia with a fundamentalist religious outlook and you become the minion of Satan, trying to defile the purity of their closed mindedness.
Another thought on centrism; It may be a more tenuous position in that you are owned by neither extreme, but vulnerable to the attacks from either side. Also depending on the issue, it might not be seen as a position of tolerance, but of fence sitting, or as an adle patted moron being unable to decide.