[extropy-chat] Changing Other Poster's Minds

[Stirling Westrup]

Lee Corbin wrote:

>> Eugen:
>>> I wish I could murder that thread. It never goes anywhere.
>> Define "anywhere." I hope you don't define it as, "everyone
>> involved adopts Eugen Leitl's position."
> 
> I dunno; but he's right in the sense that you almost *never* see anyone
> change positions in real time.  That is, you never see anyone say, "Oh,
> thank you!  Now I see the light!  How could I have been so mistaken?
> Thanks for straightening me out!"

I've done this, more than once. Its not easy, for two reasons. First, no one
believes it, and two no one SHUTS UP after saying something that profoundly
changes my views. Even when I ask. Even when I tell them that they may have
just won the argument.

The trouble is, if someone says something that points out the fundamental
difference in your points of view, and its something where you are willing to
reexamine your position, it takes time to process. And I find that that is
impossible if the person who has (usually) just stumbled upon the key
difference keeps going on and on about other irrelevant things because they
are so dedicated to convincing you of their point of view that they aren't
willing to admit victory.