Politics are more than just simple opinions but also worldviews, so challenging someone's political opinion is more than just trying to prove you are right. People are more likely to change their worldviews not from debate but from life experience, people who have been burned by the system are probably going to have more radical views than someone who is doing well. The zeitgeist is beyond an individual's control.

Having a discussion of ideals requires for both people to have some sort of understanding what each person believes in. You're probably not going to find that on a video game forum where most discussion will boil down to a battle of semantics.

I hear you in a sense. I try to avoid politics as it can get depressing and exhausting fretting about heavy subjects you have no influence on. Additionally, many political subjects here I either am not that knowledgeable of, don't hold strong views one way or another, or it's yet another Trump topic which I'm sick to death of having being bombarded with on a daily basis from just about every angle of American society.. But there are certain times and issues where I just can't resist the urge to discuss or raise a point which I find myself very passionate about - usually when it comes to censorship/freedom of speech, political correctness, big brother-type rule, anti-war, crony capitalism, some economic issues like government spending, central banks, inflation, etc..

After several years on message boards believe me I know that 99% of the time you're not going to influence opinion, (whether it's politics or anything else) but for me it's more of a therapeutic practice just to vent and communicate my ideas if nothing else, even if at the end of the day I'm likely just talking to myself. They say writing is a healthy way to express your thoughts and feelings, so why not?

But yeah basically most people are just set in their beliefs, and very little will change that. And I'm not leaving myself out of this. It's almost like a religion. But discussion is always healthy regardless. Especially in an era where more and more people seem to be retreating in their bubbles of isolation and echo chambers of others parroting similar ideas..

As a side note, I find the combo of socialist and anarchist to be something of a curiosity - no disrespect of course. Don't socialists rely heavily on governments while anarchists are essentially law and rule absent government? I just find that they are very much opposing concepts in most respects..  Though I guess some could say the same about my views (at least from an American perspective) as I'm probably center-left but also very Libertarian in many views. I'm actually wondering if I'm similar to you but just a somewhat more moderate version lol, as I was something of a Bernie bro but also appreciate the Ron Paul philosophy of Libertarianism in many ways.

Socialism is not the same thing as social democracy, however these days many people use the term socialism to refer to the latter. It may seem like a contradiction, especially if you're more familiar with anarcho-capitalism, but it's important to note that anarchism as a term actually was used in a socialist framework before it was used by capitalists.

I'm not leaving the site!

We can all be happy to be doomed if Nintendo is also doomed, so NINTENDOOOOOM! :D

but yeah, usually there is a difference depending on who is telling you something. If a person that you don´t trust and who you disagree a lot tells you something or a neutral random dude or a trusted friend who you agree with a lot of things. Changing your opinion if you have new information etc. and adapting is the best way to go. There isn´t a person that can be always right so its better to be willing to admit being wrong than to keep being wrong forever, we learn, gain more knowledge, get new ideas and are influenced by others so it would be really stupid to be too stubborn with things.

I find that when talking about politics its usually more effective to avoid labels and instead talk about actual things that can be done. Talking about socialism, left, right, liberal etc. things often only bring forth stereotypic ideas and beliefs that are too much set in stone.

i agree with you

Right answer!!!!!!!!

Hmmm but now as I think about my post I can see that I was wrong. It clear that I am always right so I can keep my opinions as they are and never change even for a bit ;D

But yeah, on a more serious tone, I also agree with your (o_O.Q) earlier post.

So will you have time to convert me now???

It depends, do you want to engage in dialectics, or are you just interested in memes?

literally both