Do you find posting on DU gives you a thicker skin?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

I find being here sharpens my arguments, helps me jettison flawed ones and toughens me up for the big fights, kinda like progressive boot-camp. I've made dumb posts and gotten into flame wars, gotten upset, thought about leaving, but then jumped right back in for another bout. Cheers, DU.

[SOteric]

1. I've never noticed that arguing with anyone

changed more than one's blood pressure.

My thinking skills hone my political positions.

I don't believe it's necessary, helpful or intelligent to come to a forum to call people whose views differ sufficient names to make them defend themselves.

I find if I just ask folks what they think and leave myself open to their responses, I usually get all the education that I require.

:hi:

[BurtWorm]

4. Oh yeah? Prove it!

:hi:

[SOteric]

6. *smooch*

[BurtWorm]

12. Oh yeah?

Well :loveya: to you too!

[proud patriot]

2. Yes !

DU has helped me hone my debate skills

[SOteric]

3. I just have to ask

if you actually mean to use the term "debate skills?"

I've seen nothing on DU that bears resemblence to actual debate. There's marked difference between having and argument and having a debate.

[proud patriot]

8. Yes

It terms of thick skin , I'm able to stay informed
on both the RW talking points and liberal counter
points . I'm more equipped to handle attacks in
person because of it .

Before DU , I had no idea there were people like
Freepers in this world , see I live in a seperate
America called the San Francisco Bay Area . I've
lived here my whole life , this is America to me .
Where I can have all my bumper stickers and yard
signs without fear of Vandalism or Harrassment .

Not everyone agrees with my politics but they agree
with my right to express myself as I do them.

Not everywhere in America would my signs remain , w/o
DU I wouldn't know that .

[SOteric]

9. I appreciate that, - I'm a San Francisco native myself

and Seattle is also a dedicatedly liberal environment.

Developing information and 'a thick skin' are resources to be sure, but they're not actually 'debate,' or any form of debating skill.

I bring the subject up as I'd recently read some proposal to have actual debate brought into DU, and responses seemed fairly certain that genuine debate was unheard of here.

I guess I had some hopes you were actually referring to 'debate' and not to honing your skills at argument and enhancing your perspective. (Which are still very worthy aims.)

[xultar]

10. 2 Tru, In a debate you listen and challenge...

I see more of the flame and run technique here. Flaming and running isn't debating or discussing. That is what O'liely does. That is why Rush is famous.

I wish there were more debating. I wish we actually listened to each other and accepted challenges to issues and ideas. I would actually like to see the flamers hang around a discussion past the front page to see if their arguments hold water.

I have also learned alot. So thanks to the DUers for schooling me. That is helpful.

[VOX]

5. Yes. Took me about a year to stop lurking and finally join. Now...

I have no problem weighing in.

Am still a bit uneasy about actually starting a thread, but I have done it with increasing frequency.

It's one thing to contemplate one's opinions, positions and attitudes, it's quite another to commit them to the written word. DU has definitely sharpened that aspect of expression.

:toast:

[areschild]

7. I don't know.

I'm still pretty thin-skinned and get hurt easily. And it hurts me if I think I've hurt someone else. I'm working on it, tho. And if someone flames me for this post, I'll cry for a week, so be kind....or else, I'll have to track you down and....(fill in the blank).

[VelmaD]

11. Definintely...

and shinier, more managable hair. ;-)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

16. worked well for my teeth actually. Nice shiny chompers now.

[Renew Deal]

13. Yes yes yes

You are dead on. I have been saying this lately. The way I found out was an argument with a wanna be freeper here at work and some chat room full of wingnuts.

[ZenLefty]

14. Yeah, but I use a loofah

And I have a pummice stone if it gets too thick.

[XNASA]

15. Absolutely, yes.

Before DU, I would find myself getting dragged down into the muck and mire when debating Wing-nuts and Fundys. My blood pressure would rise and the debates usually got ugly.

But, now.....now I know how to set the trap.