Are disagreements so bad?

[SCFinFan]

I've seen a few people on this board say they don't like it when a topic veers into some political or moral or religious argument.

I personally don't mind it. I don't think a disagreement needs to be nasty or bad. I guess I'm asking, is it really so bad that we have disagreements on this board and that we hash them out?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I've seen a few people on this board say they don't like it when a topic veers into some political or moral or religious argument.

I personally don't mind it. I don't think a disagreement needs to be nasty or bad. I guess I'm asking, is it really so bad that we have disagreements on this board and that we hash them out?

Depends on the situation, IMO. 

I don't like personal attacks, plain and simple.  I tend not to attack anyone unless they attack me first.  I respect other's policital and religious beliefs and you will never see me bashing anyone for them as a result.  Anyone on here should feel free to state their political opinions and/or religious beliefs without being subject to attack by someone else.

[raptorsfan29]

i don't mind disagreements, political threads are to me, the most pointless, nobody is going to change the other persons mind.

i try not to make personal attacks but I have a tendency to say things based on frustration. In the end i don't mean those things, it justs happens. I think everyone should know on this board that i respect everyone on the board (even ones i disagree with like Guru-In-Vegas) so they shouldn't take the personal attacks i say seriously.

[Sunstroke]

I don't mind when you guys disagree with each other...only when you disagree with me.

So, knock it off already!!

[Guru-In-Vegas]

SC I enjoy disagreeing with you.  It reminds me of some of my very close friends whom I used to work with.  They were conservative and we would discuss things in a cool way.  We would point to weaknesses in eachother's arguments but thats as far as it would go.  It was never to change someone else's mind, it was just to actually discuss and think about things that would be the best solution to problems. 

As far as it getting to morality and religion, I have no issue with that at all.  Even though I may be your polarized opposite, what kind of world would this be if everyone thought and felt the same way about everything?  In fact, I find it just as refreshing to find someone who feels completely different about things as someone who feels the same as me. 

Granted, there is one thing though.  I only feel this way when someone argues in an acceptable manner.  Shooting from the hip is annoying and I find it a waste of time when someone actually knows less than I do regarding the subject they are trying to defend.  The whole point of discussions, to me anyway, is to leave with a bit more understanding of the other side.     

[StL FinFan]

I don't mind when you guys disagree with each other...only when you disagree with me.

So, knock it off already!!

I disagree. 

[Brian Fein]

I disagree.  Disagreements suck.  and so do all of you!

GRR!!

[BoSoxGrl]

I think disagreements make things interesting.
However, personal attacks aren't awesome.
If someone disagrees with your political or religious beliefs, calling them a poopy head only makes you look like...well...a poopy head.

[MaineDolFan]

Raptor hit it on the head.  When it comes to something political or regarding religion, people spend too much time trying to show the other person why they are wrong versus merely explaining their personal stance.  You're generally not going to get someone to change their mind when it comes to those topics.

I had this discussion with CF offline and out of forum once - I don't talk about it a lot here but I am a Christian and member of the UCC.  One of my best friends in the world is Jewish.  We had a lot of good natured and spirited debates on religion knowing darn well that we're not going to change each other's mind.  Through our friendship, however, I have learned so much about the Jewish religion that it's not funny - and he the Christian thought process from me. 

That is the beauty of disagreements is the education they will provide if you open your mind.

[run_to_win]

When it comes to something political or regarding religion, people spend too much time trying to show the other person why they are wrong versus merely explaining their personal stance. 

I agree on religion.  No one is forced to fund the religion of others. 

Regarding politics, on the other hand, those of us who pay taxes are forced to pay for the bad decisions of others so it does have a direct affect on us.  In many cases we enable, encourage even, poor choices.

[bsfins]

I think this is already been said,in one form or another...but I'll do it in my own redneck way....

I think disagreements are fine,But I think there is a fine line between A disagreement ,and taking a simple yes or no Question and turning into a 3-5 page argument over semantics....That frankly it's the same 3-5 people arguing in the threads....it Bores the hell out of the rest of the people...Let's remember Last year there was a poll on the board about religion,an political threads and the majority of the people voted them as the worst threads...Frimp actually took it as an attack,on what he enjoys posting....

I know some smart ass is going to say if you don't like reading them,don't click it...Well sorry I don't get that luxury,because that's part of my responsibility to read them...I get 15 minutes or so here and there through out the work day,I come here..and have to read these boring threads,that only 3-4 people are going back an forth.By the time I'm done reading them,I don't have time,or want to start a thread that I think might be be fun for lots of people....Like if you owned a cat/dog that was so ugly and you shaved it's ass and made it walk backwards...What would you name it?

In otherwards...Throw all the lawyers,and wanna be lawyers to the bottom of the ocean! 

Ok you may resume your spitball war at will.....

[SCFinFan]

Well said, B.

[fyo]

I like debates. I usually prefer to stay away from controversial subjects for two simple reasons:

1) I don't want my opinion on some random controversial subject to dominate the stuff I come here to discuss (football and the Dolphins).
2) I find that most people don't debate controversial issues. They simply state their adamant belief and no amount of arguments can shake their faith in their beliefs. And, no, this is certainly not limited to Religious beliefs. I would like to think that I have no opinions that could not be affected by arguments - not that I believe these arguments exist in all cases, but in theory anyway...

The current discussion, primarily with SCFinFan, in the "fired teacher" thread is one of the only times I've engaged in such debate here (or anywhere on the 'net for that matter). I prefer them in person, aside from the reasons listed above.

Oh, and I apologize for driving the "fired teacher" thread completely off topic (or, at least, helping to do so). It would perhaps have been better had I initially replied to SCFinFan in the "should porn be banned" thread, but the parts of the discussion that set off my reply were not located there.

That said, I'm not a huge believer in keeping threads strictly on topic. Especially in the "off topic" section of a forum... ;-)

[CF DolFan]

I think this is already been said,in one form or another...but I'll do it in my own redneck way....

I think disagreements are fine,But I think there is a fine line between A disagreement ,and taking a simple yes or no Question and turning into a 3-5 page argument over semantics....That frankly it's the same 3-5 people arguing in the threads....it Bores the hell out of the rest of the people...Let's remember Last year there was a poll on the board about religion,an political threads and the majority of the people voted them as the worst threads...Frimp actually took it as an attack,on what he enjoys posting....

I know some smart ass is going to say if you don't like reading them,don't click it...Well sorry I don't get that luxury,because that's part of my responsibility to read them...I get 15 minutes or so here and there through out the work day,I come here..and have to read these boring threads,that only 3-4 people are going back an forth.By the time I'm done reading them,I don't have time,or want to start a thread that I think might be be fun for lots of people....Like if you owned a cat/dog that was so ugly and you shaved it's ass and made it walk backwards...What would you name it?

In otherwards...Throw all the lawyers,and wanna be lawyers to the bottom of the ocean! 

Ok you may resume your spitball war at will.....

We could actually use a forum for political as well as religion as some threads need to be dumped there.  I particuly don't care for the political and believe it or not, I ignore some of the religious barbs.  When I see Christianity directly attacked I feel compelled to speak but even I don't speak up every time as I know it is useless .... at least to most of those in the post.  I have received some very nice responses and questions behind the scenes and that is why I feel most compelled do it.

[MaineDolFan]

Regarding politics, on the other hand, those of us who pay taxes are forced to pay for the bad decisions of others so it does have a direct affect on us.  In many cases we enable, encourage even, poor choices.

I am not exactly sure where you're going with this or what you mean.  Person 'a' supports lifting the gas tax for the summer while person 'b' likens it to a political trick.  Persons 'a' and 'b' squabble over it, neither backing down.  This is 99.9999% of the political conversations on this board.  People's minds are made up and the only agenda item is demonstrating that they are right, the other person is wrong and closed minds prevail.

So I'm not sure what this has to do with paying taxes and poor choices.  And, again, what you consider a poor choice is probably the best idea since sliced bread to someone else.