Discussions

[teyla]

Question for you, f-list:

Do you get into discussions only in order to convince the other person of your viewpoint, or do you get into discussions also because you think a discussion is as much about getting the other one to understand your reasoning as it is about making them agree with you?

Discuss! ;)

Comments

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

I mostly get into discussions because I'm interested in points of view other than my own, and I'm curious about the reasoning behind them.

[teyla]

Yeah, me too. I especially enjoy trying to find that one little thing that I'm perceiving differently than the other person which causes the difference of opinion.

[euclase.livejournal.com]

Neither one. I discuss things with people only because it's entertaining and/or gives me information about the other person. I don't really care what someone else's opinion is. Opinions are useless unless you consider why the person has them. I'd rather avoid discussions entirely. You learn more about people when they're trying to defend themselves, anyway, yeah?

Oh, and hi! Haven't chatted in a while. *waves*

[teyla]

But trying to understand someone else's reasoning, isn't that part of learning more about them?

You learn more about people when they're trying to defend themselves, anyway, yeah?
Trufax, lol.

*waves back* Lol, now I have this weird mental image of you and me each on a different ship somewhere on the Atlantic, making those flag-alphabet signs. All is well aboard the Teyla, how are things on the Euclase? /random

[euclase.livejournal.com]

But trying to understand someone else's reasoning, isn't that part of learning more about them?

You don't need to trudge through a discussion for that. Just press a few buttons, and you get information. Discussions are tiring and annoying. People really only get in them because they want to hear themselves talk--unless they're idealistic people who want to sound nice and earnest in hopes of getting something in return--sex, justification, validation. I lump those in the same category with men who might hit on me at a bar. ;)

All is well aboard the Teyla, how are things on the Euclase? /random

Delightful! Can we speak in Morse Code? I have a flashlight somewhere...

[nemesishamartia.livejournal.com]

It's entertainment, mainly. And because it gives me things to chew over.

[teyla]

Yeah, it's entertaining. I just don't deal well with people who get irrational in discussions. That frustrates me to no end.

[nemesishamartia.livejournal.com]

Yes, that IS very annoying. I've been... experiencing that lately.

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

I get in discussions to share ideas and see things from a new perspective. Isn't that the point? ;)

[teyla]

Yeah, I agree with you there :).

[onionsarelife.livejournal.com]

I get into discussions for a lot of reasons! Mostly because I like to discuss things haha but if it something I'm extremely passionate about I might try to convince but I've never been one to push really hard. If someone disagrees with me, I try to understand where they're coming from! *shrug*

[teyla]

If someone disagrees with me, I try to understand where they're coming from!
Yeah, that's one of the reasons I get into discussions - the other one is making other people understand where I'm coming from. It's entertaining! :)

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

I like to hear other people's viewpoints, and sometimes I even come to the conclusion my own ideas about something could be different. And even if no-one convinces the other, it's fun to find out the reasons behind people's views & ideas. But it depends on the subject, if it's something I feel very stronlgy about I sometimes come on too strong. Also, the whole discussion-thing only works of everyone involved stays civilized and is willing to at least aknowledge the fact that different people can have, argh!, different views about stuff.

[teyla]

Also, the whole discussion-thing only works of everyone involved stays civilized and is willing to at least aknowledge the fact that different people can have, argh!, different views about stuff.
Trufax. I don't get why that seems to be so hard to understand for many people.

[maddoggirl.livejournal.com]

I generally start out just wanting to make them see my point. Then, judging by their response, I'll either a) become convinced they're an idiot and set out to demolish their argument by any means necessary, or b) become convinced that they actually have a good point and want to know more.

A case of a) was on F!S, when someone posted a secret saying they couldn't concentrate on MST3K, and in the comments someone gravely asked them if they'd ever been checked for ADHD. I suggested that maybe it was a little premature to suggest they had ADHD because they couldn't get into one show. She immediately kicked off about OMG HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT???! I WAS ALMOST DIAGNOSED WITH ADD SO I KNOW and so I got maaaaaad :D

An instance of b) would be any of our 'debates' ;D

[teyla]

Lol, I'm flattered. ;)

I function on pretty much the same way, except that when I see that the other person's reasoning is faulty - as in, objectively faulty, not faulty in a matter of my personal opinion - I usually try to get them to see that rather than just steamroll all over them tell them they are wrong.

I have to admit, I partly do that because it makes for a delicious feeling of I've-been-right-all-along when the other person has to admit that yeah, they seem to have been talking bullshit. xD

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

Depends on the subject, but probably both. It's always interesting to know where other people are coming from. And I value discussion in itself.

[teyla]

And I value discussion in itself.
Me too. Discussion is fun. It enables me to see things from a viewpoint I might never have considered. Even if I don't agree with that viewpoint, it's interesting to have experienced it.

[lf2871.livejournal.com]

I guess I do like too argue, sometimes just because, just for the fun of it. I'm always intrested in other peoples points of view.

[teyla]

Yeah, me too. That's pretty much why I get into discussions. Well, that, and to convince people that LotTL isn't really as bad as they thought it was. xD