To those who post questions and answer, do you actually think you change any minds? Do you think people look at your question and and think and reexamine their own position?
Bottom line, do you think you impact people or do you even intend to?
For myself, I usually try to get a serious, fact based answer, but sometimes my smarta$$, sarcastic nature comes out. I do hope that the lurkers will consider my answer when it is one of the nice calm ones, not a sarcastic one.
?2011-02-07T23:41:25Z
Favorite Answer
I used to answer a lot, but it just got nasty so I stopped.
I don't think people come to YA looking for real answers anyway.
Y!A is a pretty sad institution, and Politics or Religion are actually the best of the lot because no one takes it seriously. I've seen totally wrong 'best answers' in the science sections, and harmful answers in the society sections.
The rules actually forbid any kind of serious discussion as being 'chatty', and the anti-rant rules pretty much limit the seriousness of a question.
There are basically three purposes for posting here (disregarding the point system) A. Stating some fact that reinforces your beliefs and disguising it as a question. Naturally, WE have to post as much reinforcement of our beliefs as THEY do, in order to destroy the lies and support the truth.
B. Giving a question for people to think about. The really good ones never get any answers.
C. Testing the waters -- looking for a lot of answers, to get a gist of the zeitgeist.
I hope for a serious fact based answer to questions, I don't mind some smart ***, funny answers if they make me laugh. Sometimes I'm just interested in hearing the opinions of others. When I answer questions I usually use logic and opinion. Facts are great, but a lot of politics is about opinion, and I think people are interested in hearing others opinion, to compare it to their own.
I don't think peoples minds change very often, but "If the truth can be told so as to be understood, it will be believed" - Terence McKenna.
I just pour my heart and mind into answers. I'm not too concerned about changing minds. I come up with the darndest answers, and I think, "Maybe someone will get a buzz from this, like I'm feeling really creative right now".
I think most people here already have their minds made up, but there are a few fence-sitters who I hope can be pulled to the correct side of the fence. BTW, the correct side of the fence is usually my side of the fence. haha. On a few issues, I am on occasion the fence-sitter, and I want to learn what the competing opinions are.