What have you learnt from Poly OT?

[ricketyclik]

I learned that my thinking on the death penalty was quite flawed.

How so?

[Proteus_MST]

I have learned that there are vietnamese spambots on the internet, which won´t hesitate to bombard english speaking forums with messages

[Thoth]

I learned that Yankeestanis are bat**** insane.

and that Ruskies are dumber than stumps.

[rah]

How so?

When I was young and on a debate team for a class. I came across a study about a group of convicted robbers in California that had used fake weapons in their crimes. When asked why they used fake weapons almost all of them attributed it to fear of the death penalty. To me, that was rock hard evidence that the death penalty was indeed a deterrent. People were rarely hurt in robberies where a fake weapon was used. And if you accepted that it was a deterrent, then it had value. That study and line of argument won us the debate. So of course my ego from that one always lead me to support the Death penalty up until I started coming here.

Once here I was exposed to all the other stats that showed how it was administered in most of the country. I.E. it sucks to be black. Those stats made me question whether even if I believed if it was a deterrent if that was enough to override the obvious injustice on how it was administered. That and people kept pounding the other obvious, if you were wrongly convicted, there was no bringing you back from the dead.

So over my time here, I've changed my opinion and don't support the death penalty. (even though on those rare heinous crimes where guilt seems 100%, I can be convinced that it's not a bad thing)

[NICE MOBIUS]

I would like to think that it is your exposure to the more liberally minded posters (like myself ) that would have brought that epiphany.

I think it is a good thing to spend time in intellectual debate with people you don't necessarily agree with.

I know I have changed my mind on certain things, or solidified pre-existing beliefs, and sometimes even been corrected due to poly.

I can't think of any obvious examples off the top of my head - and certainly nothing from the conservative side...

[Elok]

It got me on the road to learning restraint. It was the kids who really taught me that, and I'm still learning, but Poly led the way.

[NICE MOBIUS]

Keep learning.

[rah]

I would like to think that it is your exposure to the more liberally minded posters (like myself ) that would have brought that epiphany.

Yeah, they say as you get older you usually get more conservative, but I think I've gone the opposite way. Poly gets some of the credit for it.
All you liberals are complete asshats, but you do make quite a few good points.

[Sava]

It got me on the road to learning restraint. It was the kids who really taught me that, and I'm still learning, but Poly led the way.

you're welcome ****head

[rah]

Someday SAVA will have children and maybe learn some.

[Sava]

my kids will probably roll their eyes at me just like everyone else

[Sava]

my goal is to investigate the possibility of a poly relationship too

less work for me if my sister wives are doing everything

[NICE MOBIUS]

Self-Biased said they're bad - he has experience

[Sava]

he may be right

but i have to investigate nevertheless

[NICE MOBIUS]

Currently the gene pool appears to be MHLC, assuming people on poly haven't managed to scare her away already. MWHC might have a thing or two to say about that...