Have you ever successfully changed anyone's mind about anything?

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:34:26 -0500

Many people take offense when I post something with which they disagree. I bet that happens to you, doesn't it? They seem to think that I'm attacking them, as though I expect to tear down their opinion and replace it with my own. However, that simply isn't the case at all.

It seems to me that we're all prisoners of our beliefs. Like this scene from the James Garner movie, Support Your Local Sheriff, we become trapped by imaginary boundaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiFLTtjeuDc

So, why are we arguing? Why bother if we can't really change anybody's mind about anything?

The truth is that being among those who share our opinions is comfortable. We put ourselves out there with our words trolling for like minded groups.

Another truth is that some groups need to be stirred (or riled) into action. Elections are a very good example. In the past two Presidential elections, the Democrats were inspired to vote, while the Republicans weren't. To be fair, the Democrats were far more motivated in 2008 than in 2012. After four years of disappointments, they turned out in far smaller numbers. The GOP could have won easily in 2012, even if they turned out in the same numbers as 2008. Sadly for them, they didn't.

Thus, much of the political banter going on these days isn't intended to change anyone's mind about whom they're going to vote for. It's more about convincing like minded voters to get out and vote. So, don't take offense. No one is attacking you, are they? If you find yourself getting hot under the collar, just step back and stop listening in on other people's conversations.

Support Your Local Sheriff - We Don't Have Any Bars Yet

Sometimes a sheriff has to improvise.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 10:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:36:10 -0500

Sadly, many believe that what they think, write, or say is the truth when, in reality, looking at it in a rational manner it is NOT the truth. Facts are just that: facts regardless of how we may FEEL about something.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 9 at 2016 10:36 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:36:28 -0500

Yes CPT Jack Durish I have. Many times my own mind has been changed but what I have read, seen and heard but sometimes I have presented information to others - usually in history of foreign affairs and they have changed their minds.
[Update] Over the years I have been able to change a few people's minds about who to vote for and what issues to support. I have worked in local politics for over 20 years as a conservative.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Mar 9 at 2016 10:41 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:41:52 -0500

I don't expect to change anyone's mind on anything, but I do expect to learn something in the process. I also don't expect them to change mine either. I'm not going to agree to everything someone says, and I definitely don't expect them to like all of mine. If we can talk about it, then we have a mutual respect as long as the conversation doesn't take an ugly turn to name calling, or other ignorant means some folks on here in the past have used to justify that their opinion is the only valid one. If you're unwilling to come on here and share an opinion, justify your view, and support your claim, be easy on yourself and go to FB. It's not like most of your friends will fact check you.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 9 at 2016 10:49 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:49:29 -0500

CPT Jack Durish more often than not, people are emotionally attached to their opinions. This means that in order to change someone's opinion, more often than not, it has to start by separating it from the emotion behind it. Politics is a big one. People tend to be fueled by a righteous indignation when it comes to political beliefs. This often comes across as a challenge to oppose them rather than an invitation to have a civilized exchange of beliefs on the issues of the day. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. Another big one is religion. People are spiritually attached to their opinion, and often take a disagreement about religious beliefs as a personal attack. The key to any discussion in which opposing opinions are held is acknowledging the other person's right to their opinion. Remove the emotion. Boil it down to opinion and support. This is how I feel, this is why I feel it. Instead of this is how I feel, and this is why you are wrong to oppose it. As soon as you start outright telling people they are wrong, you will never convince them to change their opinion. They are going to shut down and you become Charlie Brown's teacher as the other person tunes you out. I don't try to change other people's opinions. I will tell people when I disagree with their opinion (hopefully in a respectful way), and I will tell people when I think they make good points. Fact of the matter is no matter how much a person is admired, or how much a person is despised, no person is right all the time and no person is wrong all the time.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 9 at 2016 11:19 AM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:19:02 -0500

Sometimes folks are so caught up in their opinions, they lose clarity. I like to give folks a different perspective. Even if I don't change their minds, its important to understand a different view or at least acknowledge that there is a different view than our own.

I value everyone's opinion if it comes from an honest place. We can agree to disagree. Then again, some folks are idiots and I just write them off. Luckily, their are fewer idiots out there.

Response by MSgt Darren VanDerwilt made Mar 9 at 2016 11:20 AM

MSgt Darren VanDerwilt — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:20:13 -0500

Well said. I find it better to just state your opinion and the data that supports it. Name calling and focus group tested political tag lines are normally counter productive. A little humor doesn't hurt either. I would be harsh and vitriolic in the recent past, but reading Greg Gutfeld's book "How to be Right: The Art of Being Persuasively Correct," has changed my approach. Basically, you'll likely never change someone's opinion on most subjects. But, if you can state your opinion concisely, directly, and without being an ass, you'll cause others to think.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 11:21 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:21:08 -0500

Actually, I did. Once upon a time ago, while visiting my family after my Father passed....my sister, her son and I were having a discussion about weapons and firearms. My nephew was against firearms stating that they kill people. Naturally, I went into attack mode on that statement. While I didn't have a firearm on me, I did have my knife. I pulled it out, and talked about how, while deadly it can possibly be, it is still a tool and an inanimate object and only effective and/or dangerous depending on the hand that holds it. I opened the blade and laid it on the table. I looked right at my knife and told it to kill someone. The knife did not move. It didn't even flinch. I looked at my nephew and informed him that a firearm is the same way. It will not harm anyone until it is in the hands of someone, re-explaining that it is a tool and it is the hand of the person using it that commits the act, not the tool. He actually told me that I changed his thought process and even thanked me for it.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 11:25 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:25:11 -0500

On occasion I have changed my opinion and have even been able to change that of others.

However, as a rule no.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 9 at 2016 11:29 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:29:12 -0500

I convinced my wife that balancing the check book was not spending all the money to a zero balance.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 11:31 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:31:55 -0500

Yes Sir. I tend to hurt feelings on a regular basis, but that is not my intention.

Response by SGT William Howell made Mar 9 at 2016 11:35 AM

SGT William Howell — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:35:28 -0500

In 2009 on a overnight movement we had some Taliban that thought Americans were easy targets. After we killed about half of them the other half ran away. I would call that a change of opinion.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 9 at 2016 11:42 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:42:29 -0500

CPT Jack Durish Having gone back and read the finished post, I think you are mostly right. A lot of the political banter right now is not about changing minds. It is about scaring people into voting. I was watching Lewis Black, and I think he summed it up pretty well. So the Democrats go out and try to scare their fanbase into voting by painting the Republican as an Evil Crazy Person, and the Republicans try to scare their fanbase into voting by painting the Democrat in the same way. My opinion is that neither side is interested in presenting a true leader as a candidate. Maybe Rome is on the decline. For the kicker, my wife is a registered Democrat, and my Mom is a Republican. My Dad is registered R, but votes independent. I am registered independent, and vote my conscience regardless of party, or chance of winning the election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhw66uVf6_4

lewisblack two party system.avi

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 11:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:53:40 -0500

It is easier to fool someone than it to convince them that they have been fooled no matter what evidence of logic you throw at the issue.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Mar 9 at 2016 12:24 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:24:40 -0500

Given that I have been married multiple times, I have always managed to change my then wife mind to let me volunteer for another mission; result I went on that mission, but later got back to an empty house. Yep they were "Maybe."

Response by SFC Stephen King made Mar 9 at 2016 1:01 PM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:01:15 -0500

Great question My answer is no. I can help people with there decisions but I can't control their thoughts.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Mar 9 at 2016 1:39 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:39:47 -0500

Changed anyone's mind, a few. Helped them understand things from a different perspective (because everyone is different and come from different backgrounds), yes.

My goal is not to change anyone's mind but understand a different perspective (non-offensively) while still maintaining your own.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Mar 9 at 2016 2:25 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:25:43 -0500

Yes. Helped someone see that either the Bible is Truth from beginning to end, or it's useless, beginning to end. (Of course, I was just the instrument... The composer and music ran the show.)

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Mar 9 at 2016 3:02 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:02:02 -0500

Yes, more than once. I can be pretty persuasive...and make a really good argument.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Mar 9 at 2016 5:36 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:36:29 -0500

I changed my wife's mind when she agreed to marry me. Before that time, she had been content to remain single.