What I've Learned From the RWED

POSTED BY: HKCavalier
UPDATED: Monday, June 12, 2006 22:11
VIEWED: 2573
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HKCAVALIER

Saturday, June 25, 2005 1:13 AM

There's a lot of talk about the pointlessness of this board; that no one ever changes their minds and nothing is ever truly discussed; that people come here with their minds made up, just to call people names and hoan their /sarcasm.

Well, I know I don't. I know I've learned some things; my opinions have shifted since I started reading the RWED two years ago (before it was even called the RWED).

For instance: I used to think Jimmy Carter was by far the best President we've had in my life time. I never examined that contention of mine. Until I started reading the RWED. After reading what folks have said on this site about his presidency, I've come to realize that, actually, as a President, he was a...well, a colossal failure in a lot of ways. He's still my favorite person who was President, but that's about it. I'm glad to see the good work he's doing these days.

I'm wondering if anyone else has learned anything from "the opposition" while visiting this board. And please, "Yeah, I've learned that they're even more stoopid than I thought!" doesn't count. Wouldn't it be a hoot, if we kept this thread civil and respectful?

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

SIGNYM

Saturday, June 25, 2005 1:19 AM

Actually, I've changed my views on gun control. I think they were shifting anyway but discussions on personal liberties and government intrusion more or less pushed me over to the other side.

CHRISISALL

Monday, June 27, 2005 8:59 PM

This board made me re-evaluate my stand on conspiracy theories. People like Finn have shown me it's too easy to shoot your mouth off without SOME facts to back it up.
I've also discovered I'm not as humble as I would have thought, and am working on it.
Also that language is important, and certain wording loses meaning:
George Bush is EVIL!!(That's stupid and promotes useless negative emotion)
I strongly disagree with Bush's policies and believe they are ill-concieved, short sighted, and will seriously harm this country in the long run.(more accurate, less inflamatory)
I've also learned there's a lot I don't know. A lot. But nobody can know everything.

I'm still a Conspiracy Theorist, although I guess they might not have AS many of those Black Helecopters as I might have thought.

Comin' a little more away from the edge Chrisisall

RUE

Monday, June 27, 2005 11:29 PM

I have learned so much I couldn't even begin to list it. In general, most everything I know I learned from somebody else. There are very few things I can take credit for. Counting 'em doesn't even get up to two hands worth.

CHRISISALL

Saturday, June 3, 2006 2:13 PM

Just lookin' back to see how we've changed (and IF we've changed).
The world seems a little meaner than it was even the one year ago this thread was started.
I see for myself that I've become a little harsher, but it's nuthin' I can't correct.

Stay shiny in these tough times, my peeps.

Hindsight Chrisisall

TAYEATRA

Saturday, June 3, 2006 3:14 PM

I've learned that American politics, whilst ostensibly different from the UK actually just results in the same arguments. It's remarkably reassuring!

*****
Taya
*****
I'm going to S3!!!
(*Insert hysterical celebration dance here*)

SIGNYM

Saturday, June 3, 2006 3:39 PM

I've learned that I like discussing things more than I like driving people away. So I THINK I've gotten a longer prespective about this board, altho I'm sure some people would disagree!

I actually learned something from Pirate News. (gasp!) It occurred to me that since most people are not the natural sociopaths that being truly elite requires, there is a role for Mind Kontrol. Something needs to be done to break the natural connection that even the very wealthy might occasionally feel for people who basically look and sound like them. So I woundn't be surprised if there were deep rituals for some of these elite- perhaps some illegal/ immoral way of "earning your chops" to forge a bond with others in the elite.

Dreamtrove has got me thinking more along the same lines. Altho I don't think that there is a strong connection between Bush and Hillary for example... after all, there is competition even w/in an elite... in fact probably more so because they really act on greed, as opposed to most people who just want to get along... I'm no longer able to credit the way some Democrats behave on the basis of sheer stupidity. Moral corruption is more like it.

And while I'm on the topic if things I've learned from this board, I've come to realize that MOST people don't value "liberty" as much as they or everyone else assumes. I kind of had that figured out a few years ago (what can I say? I'm a slow learner! But at least I'm still learning ) by looking at China and also Afghanistan, the Sudan and other failed states. People usually prefer stability to starvation. But what I didn't really realize is how divergent the USA population is from what the Founding Fathers envisioned. While I greatly enjoy Liberty and Democracy I've also come to realize that most people in the USA would trade it away in a heartbeat for perceived security. Maybe the Founding Fathers had it wrong.

I've learned that most people argue from emotional need: to be comfortable, to justify past actions, to feel some sort of control, convince others that their PTSD is justified, etc. Even me. I used to overlay fairly rigid notions of "right and wrong" on the world. I'm coming to realize that my values aren't - and perhaps shouldn't be- everyone's values. I see things more clearly.

I realized that I'm not anywhere near as smart as I thought I was. That people reach their knowledge through many different paths- thru deep intuition like HK, or assiduous research like Rue, thru humor like Chrisisall and Citizen and even thru deep dark suspicion like PN and DT.

Another thing that I've learned is that it's possible to be an old fart and learn. I'm still learning.

CHRISISALL

Sunday, June 4, 2006 3:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:

I realized that I'm not anywhere near as smart as I thought I was.

That was the most valuable thing I think I learned here. This board has (and has had) all manner of truly intelligent life forms posting. I thought myself easily any thinking person's equal

.
And to think, at one time I percieved myself as 'humble'.
"Well, I bloody well am NOW!"

Or at least, I'm trying more now...

But I suspect I'll never really leave my inner snark behind completely....

Chrisisall, humble as the dust...AND a Chinese jet pilot.

SIGNYM

Sunday, June 4, 2006 3:22 PM

Quote:
And to think, at one time I percieved myself as 'humble'.
"Well, I bloody well am NOW!"

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

CHRISISALL

Sunday, June 4, 2006 3:28 PM

Yours is an evil laugh....

Dirty Chrisisall

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