If anything reading posts on BGP has made me more emphatic in my political beliefs.

If anything reading posts on BGP has made me more emphatic in my political beliefs.

 

Kind of my point when I started the thread.

I think this forum has had an influence on my political thoughts. I have seen other sides of points and had to think deeper into my own beliefs and issues to produce a well reasoned argument. No, I've never changed my vote or flipped on an issue, but this forum does hold some unquantifiable influence with me.

I have been in the process of reevaluating my position on the death penalty because of Jim Shue's pointing out the hypocrisy of the Prolife stance.

 

Haven't pulled the trigger to be against death penalty but have and are considering whether it is fair to hold all life precious and still be pro-death penalty.

 

I have picked candidates based on recommendations from posters whose opinion I hold in high esteem when I knew nothing about the candidates. Attorney General or it might have been some judge race and Hearsay's views stand out as clear in my mind as an example of that.

For those of you that hold 100% steadfast to your beliefs, no matter what anyone else has to say, why do you venture into the P/R forum? It would seem to me that it would only be to tell those that you don't agree with how wrong they are or to get the 'good ol'boy' slap on the back from those who agree with you. Do you get more out of it than than? My hope it that you do.

For those of you that hold 100% steadfast to your beliefs, no matter what anyone else has to say, why do you venture into the P/R forum? It would seem to me that it would only be to tell those that you don't agree with how wrong they are or to get the 'good ol'boy' slap on the back from those who agree with you. Do you get more out of it than than? My hope it that you do.

Have I missed something? Did somebody say that nobody influences their beliefs in this thread?

 

I have toned down my criticism of John McCain considerably because of some very thoughtful posts by Leatherneck and Hearsay, among others, in McCain's defense. Have I changed my mind about McCain being a weak candidate? No - but I did decide that my criticism may have been a little too harsh. McCain does have some strong points but I am not about to forget his weak ones.

 

Other people's opinions do not matter much to me unless they are willing to support them with facts. I am always willing to consider facts and figures from a reliable source.

I read alot more in this forum than I actually post. I have made some posts, that I know lets others know my party loyalty. But I'm not one to try to change others to siding with my beliefs. When threads start to really get into bashing either candidate I usually leave it and stay away.

Sometimes, I'm not so much influenced or impressed by outside sources someone may link as I am the actual opinions that people have formed. I am very congnizant of the fact that there are many parts of politics and religion that I'm not as educated or versed in, and I respect the opinions of people in various disciplines that have formed some very educated opinions. Now, I may still not change my opinion, but I can assure you that understanding the thought processes of others have tempered some of my stronger opinions, and in the case of religious discussions, helped me understand my own beliefs much more fully. I love the challenge this forum brings daily to my life.

I read alot more in this forum than I actually post. I have made some posts, that I know lets others know my party loyalty. But I'm not one to try to change others to siding with my beliefs. When threads start to really get into bashing either candidate I usually leave it and stay away.

 

Is it party loyalty or candidate loyalty?

 

Not to threadjack but strict party loyalty is not a good thing. Blindly voting for the party's candidate despite their qualifications is not good for this country.

 

Voting for the candidate that best aligns with your thought process and beliefs is.

 

And even better is voting for the candidate, I support.:sssh::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Is it party loyalty or candidate loyalty?

 

Not to threadjack but strict party loyalty is not a good thing. Blindly voting for the party's candidate despite their qualifications is not good for this country.

 

Voting for the candidate that best aligns with your thought process and beliefs is.

 

And even better is voting for the candidate, I support.:sssh::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

It is party loyalty for reasons that I'll keep to myself. I'll just say that our thought process and beliefs are along the same lines more often than not.:thumb:

For those of you that hold 100% steadfast to your beliefs, no matter what anyone else has to say, why do you venture into the P/R forum? It would seem to me that it would only be to tell those that you don't agree with how wrong they are or to get the 'good ol'boy' slap on the back from those who agree with you. Do you get more out of it than than? My hope it that you do.

 

The question was have we ever changed our vote? Have you actually changed your vote based on something said on this site? There are very intelligent posters on this site and some of them are quite adapt at debate. However, when it comes to how I'll vote on something it will have little, if anything, to do with what I've read here. That said, there are very good resources that are made available here by other posters and I have gained much knowledge on issues since I've been a member. Those resources have helped me form an opinion on issues I wasn't sure on. But change something I've decided on? No.

The question was have we ever changed our vote? Have you actually changed your vote based on something said on this site? There are very intelligent posters on this site and some of them are quite adapt at debate. However, when it comes to how I'll vote on something it will have little, if anything, to do with what I've read here. That said, there are very good resources that are made available here by other posters and I have gained much knowledge on issues since I've been a member. Those resources have helped me form an opinion on issues I wasn't sure on. But change something I've decided on? No.

 

Nice post.

There are certain posters I give a great amount of respect to when I read their posts. They are knowledgeable and refrain from name-calling and other bashing. I don't know that I've actually changed my opinion completely, but I have modified some positions after reading those posters thoughts.

 

There are others who are scathing, resort to name-calling or consistently try to defend their positions by attacking other positions. Even though I feel some of those posters are knowledgeable, I can't get past their "style" to seriously consider what they're saying. I find myself stubbornly disagreeing with them regardless. :lol:

 

:thumb: Unfortunately most of them are on parked on the right hand side of the driveway. But sometimes the left hand side get just as crowded. Only with Hybrids instead of SUV's.

I can't say anyone has convinced me to change my vote, but BGP has certainly lead me to change my own mind. I do a significant amount of research on some topics, and often I learn new information that changes my point of view.

:thumb: Unfortunately most of them are on parked on the right hand side of the driveway. But sometimes the left hand side get just as crowded. Only with Hybrids instead of SUV's.

 

Sometimes?? You reading the same posts as me?