"To the debaters I am honored to know..."

Here's a problem I see all too often in the blogosphere and on social media groups…In fact it’s something I notice happening to an increasing degree in society! People are becoming less likely to read and listen to opinions which challenge their own.

I am somewhat of a non-intrusive reader... I read, I observe and I digest but I’m less likely to jump head-first into a debate on public social groups or blogs. Partly because I think we already have quite a strong and opinionated mix of "self taught journalists" who do a pretty good job of provoking debate on a myriad of stories. I count some of them as my close friends and colleagues (whose opinions I don't always agree with).

But Who's saying What? If you've noticed the number of political, social and even controversial debates Facebookers, Twitters and Bloggers engage in, then you know what I'm on about. If not it's time to catch up!

Listening to a friend engage a group on some controversial topic recently, I asked him "So what's the point you’re trying to make?" He replies "It's a Different Perspective!". That stuck with me... Now, whenever I sit down to read certain online debates I notice something new.

Facebook's great for debate. By debate, I don't mean personal crap. I mean an honest discussion of issues, politely but firmly expressing your disagreement, and explaining why you hold such a stance.

I've noticed how intolerant people are of views which are not parallel to their own. There ARE the types who engage in healthy and friendly debate but most either agree with you with a "Very True", "Great Post" or "you're SO Right" or they are heavily against it. That's not a bad thing, but just how DO you argue your point? Emotionally or Logically? Do you even try to gain the writer's perspective before slamming his/her post or article on grounds of controversy, arrogance or just plain timing?

Without listening and truly debating, it's easier to demonize those who disagree with you. I'd go so far as to say that listening only to opinions you agree with, is nothing short of intellectual incest. What's that ? Here's an interesting definition I came across!

Intellectual Incest is a situation where too many people in a group all think alike and exclude legitimate diverse viewpoints. Not all points of view are intelligent arguments but sometimes when people become too uniform they fail to evolve for lack of fresh new ideas. The concept is similar to genetic inbreeding. Realists are encouraged to exchange ideas with people who are not of the same mind set because it gives both individuals the opportunity to learn something new. When people hang out with people who agree on everything then there is less opportunity to learn from a new point of view and it leads to stagnation.

Take some of my own friends, whenever they spot "herd mentality" they challenge it, and they're not always nice about it. Maybe they sometimes summon their inner jackass, but none of them will ever apologize for the end result.

If they've caused someone to think and challenge their own ideas, I consider that a good thing.

Debate is important to sway public opinion, maybe even change it! By listening only to opinions which mirror your own, how can there be any intellectual growth? It takes opposing opinions and the act of debating those opinions in a civil, intelligent & logical manner to not just pick out the bad ideas, but to refine good opinions.

So go ahead, find those blogs which you disagree with, engage the hosts in friendly debate, and allow yourself to be swayed. Think for yourself, but keep an open mind. Remember no one is perfect, and no one is correct all the time. I certainly know I'm not.