Poll: Have You Ever Completely Changed Your Mind On A Forum Thread?

[Midpack]

I was going to do a poll, but I changed my mind - very few could be objective answering. I contend it’s rare for anyone, more so the older we get, to completely change their mind on a substantial issue as a result of what they’ve read on a forum. I’ve asked before, and we all want to appear open minded so we say yes, I can change my mind. But invariably the examples given are trivial or on topics where we have no point of view going in - so it’s not changing your mind. I wonder because there are so many topics rehashed over and over, with no resolution and essentially no one changing their established views one iota. These days where so many feel entitled to their own “facts” or selective facts it’s only gotten worse.

I found a couple academic studies that suggest only about 10% of people can actually change their minds on anything substantial (e.g. climate change, political issues, tipping) - though most aren’t likely to acknowledge the change - they just go quiet for a while. And it usually takes years, and convincing by friends and family, not an anonymous stranger online.

And 90% of people will not change no matter what they’re presented with or how flimsy their position is - don’t bother me with the facts, my mind is made up. That’s also why Mark Twain said “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” I need to learn to ignore those topics altogether, or more likely one post and move on...

 

[travelover]

My mind is made up - I firmly believe that people don't change their minds.

 

[Gumby]

In this thread, I changed my mind about capital gains tax treatment based on the arguments made by samclem and Ziggy29. http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/dividend-and-capital-gains-tax-increase-63750.html
Admittedly, it's not a huge matter, but to me it demonstrates the value of our discussions here. We can and do learn new ways to look at things.

 

[Midpack]

In this thread, I changed my mind about capital gains tax treatment based on the arguments made by samclem and Ziggy29. http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/dividend-and-capital-gains-tax-increase-63750.html
Admittedly, it's not a huge matter, but to me it demonstrates the value of our discussions here. We can and do learn new ways to look at things.

You had to go back 8 years, but fair enough. I’ll accept the academic research suggesting 10% can change their minds on anything substantial, even though the 90% who’ll never change their minds usually feels like 100% in real time - probably because “it usually takes years, and convincing by friends and family, not an anonymous stranger online.”

 

[street]

Interesting topic and change is not easy how you believe no matter what.

I think the change part is a hard thing because some that don't change, it has worked for them. The issue is trying to change people's minds and wanting them to change the way you want them to change is the issue. LOl

A very complex personality issue.

 

[MarieIG]

Not in one one thread, but over time. The issue was dividend income v. whole portfolio value.

 

[Midpack]

Not in one one thread, but over time. The issue was dividend income v. whole portfolio value.

Agree, another reason it seems pointless in a thread in real time. Not sure it’s substantial but as stubborn as I can be, I changed my mind and acted on a Roth conversions, with some influence from some posts here, but it took more than 5 years.

My non extreme views on climate change have slowly crossed a line due to others, though not on ER.org.

But again, I know I can be very stubborn...

 

[mountainsoft]

I contend it’s rare for anyone, more so the older we get, to completely change their mind on a substantial issue as a result of what they’ve read on a forum.

There have been several topics that have "influenced" my opinions, especially for things I didn't know much about to start with. I suppose that's more about education than changing my mind.

Once I have enough information to develop an opinion, I generally stick with that viewpoint until someone can convince me otherwise. I am completely open to other thoughts and opinions, that's how I learn. But I don't change my mind willy nilly just because someone sees something different than I do.

I tend to be an optimistic glass half full kind of person, so often it's just a different way of looking at the same thing the pessimistic glass half empty person sees. In a way, we're often both right.

 

[Gumby]

You had to go back 8 years, but fair enough.

I picked that only because it was the first one that popped into my head, but I'm sure there have been others, even if I did not immediately acknowledge the change within the thread. Most of the people who post here are very smart and often convincing.

 

[Aerides]

On a "substantial issue", based off a forum thread? Probably not, but maybe from other factors: a long well-written piece, that brings other info into focus.

For example, I support in theory, being able to legally "end it" if I needed to, and the idea that a doctor should be able to help. But then I read a long article about how it's working (or not) in Belgium, and I'm not so sure it would work without abuse in most places. Once you allow something to be legal, someone will want to make a business out of it, and then they want to make more money so they need more ppl to "assist"...

 

[Just_Steve]

This forum has changed my mind on when to take SS.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Also, that no way would I want to live in a LCOL State, City or Town. I was contemplating it some years ago.

 

[MichaelB]

I’ve reconsidered my views on a couple of issues based on some thread discussions here. In addition, some views and sources posted here have motivated me to revisit my thoughts on some topics. Not necessarily change, but certainly look more deeply into alternate views.

 

[dtbach]

I've changed political parties over the last 8 years from information I gained and also on climate change. I was very skeptical at first but the data changed my opinion.

 

[Midpack]

Darn it! After a few posts above, I realize there was a far more positive, constructive way to frame this topic. Darn it!

 

[KCGeezer]

Reconsidered due to more information, absolutely. Completely changed my mind, can’t honestly say that I have.

 

[spncity]

Before finding this forum I thought I would work forever.

 

[travelover]

I'm starting to think it might be OK if people buy electric cars, but they better not be smug about it.

 

[Nemo2]

Can't say I've ever had an epiphany - AFAIK many/most/all of my positions, (rightly or wrongly), are engendered by personal experiences, and although some of them may have modified over time, there's never been an instantaneous lightning flash of 'clarity'.

If some have later changed, since I have a short, to nonexistent, attention span, it's unlikely that I could trace things back to the proverbial 'defining moment'.

 

[W2R]

Of course I have changed my mind based on discussions here! Otherwise there would be no point in wasting time participating in these threads.

For example, for many years I thought it was INSANE for anybody to claim SS at age 62. It would have been crazy to do that, in my case. But after reading many threads on this forum about when to claim SS, I now think it depends on the individual situation. When F claimed his at age 62, I didn't even flip out because in his situation it was the right thing to do.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Of course I have.

 

[blueskyk]

My mind has been substantially changed on a variety of topics when I read detailed accounts of real life experiences. Just Mercy (book, Bryan Stevenson) changed my view of the justice system, Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Katherine Boo) changed my views on poverty and justice, The Locust Effect (Gary Haugen) opened my eyes on poverty and violence.

I wonder if part of “never” changing one’s mind (referring to that idea of 90% never changing) simply has to do with lack of exposure (or interest?) in well-researched, well-told stories of lives and experiences that are very different from ones own experience.

As specifically regards threads here, those that have educated me have “changed my mind”.

All that being said, perhaps I’ve interpreted the question a bit too broadly...

 

[NW-Bound]

Over the years, I have become more agnostic on more subjects. I am less sure about many things.

So, yes, I have changed.

 

[Car-Guy]

Not completely but my opinion has been adjusted a few times. Please don't tell the DW I admitted to that. She wouldn't believe my mind could ever be changed anyway, even a little.

 

[gerntz]

More so I've thought about issues I hadn't on my own & formed opinions based on that.