someone, on this board, regarding your reasoning for favoring on party over the next. Don't bother! It's not going to work! So, the best you can do is be reasonably polite and respectful: no name calling, or denigrating, and state your case. At least, that way, you may have an interesting discussion, and learn something about an issue you didn't previously know. 
I figured out years ago that no one here was ever convinced to accept an opposing view and that it was, and always would be, people yelling at each other. "My facts" are not "your facts." (and I don't mean you personally). And that's it.
And that's why -- with this one exception -- I almost never post here any more. It's a huge waste of time and energy.
Generally, I come here, scroll down a thread, think "what a waste of oxygen," and move on.
I think your generalization is too broad and too sweeping. No, there is not too often the "my long held belief is wrong and you are right" post, but I think you can see positions change by what people say AND don't say.
For example, some of the liberals here were going on and on about the economy and how good it had become recently. I countered with an article from PBS that stated 3/4's of the American people feel like we are still in recession. That caused Matt to post that a lot of people are hurting and he knows many of them personally. The liberals in that thread prior to my post, were gung ho about the economy, but subdued or resigned after it. No, they didn't tell me I was right, but they did stop arguing it with the same voracity.
Another example was Mari stated that the Bergdahl release was warranted, in part, due to the 5 terrorists that were released had no special skill set that would be much of a threat to the U.S. I pointed out to him that the skill set they possessed was that they were leaders, and leaders by definition have certain qualities that make them valuable and a threat such as their experience, ability to rally their men, knowledge of how to fight us, better grasp of our weaknesses, etc. Mari acknowledged this as a good point. Now, it didn't change his mind on the merits of the swap, but it did give him pause.
As you may well know, Mari and I go back and forth on Ocare quite a bit. Lol. When I read his posts on the subject, I am almost always forced into reading up on his comments and assertions on the net. For example, I hadn't never heard of "risk corridors" before. If he hadn't mentioned it, I am not sure I would have ever looked it up.
So, what may be on the surface to seem nobody ever convinces anyone of anything here, I think if you look deeper, you will see points acknowledged, but sometimes that acknowledgement comes in the form of an omission of a follow up post.
And like Ed has said, whether or not anyone's mind is changed, this board is an amazing source of info and it leads me to understand the issues more fully and to question my own beliefs at times. I have to get better from separating out all the noise as clearly some are here just to read talking points and claim the other side is evil or sick. I have numerous liberal friends IRL and I know they look at the world differently, but that doesn't make them bad people. In fact, I know they are great people.
The reason I like this board so much is it is so dynamic. As opposed to the GD, topics change here everyday at a whims notice based on the latest news cycle. I learn so much here, I get to sharpen my skills and rob from my conservative brethren of their arguments that I use on other forums, and I get to hear many well thought out and well written opposing points of view.
Just my take. Props to Matt for starting this convo.
-- Modified on 11/1/2014 2:15:44 AM
Like I said, I don't often read any of the posts here and see only the screaming subject lines. If there's more rationality here, that's a good thing. But I don't have enough energy for the argument any more.
There's a handful of people here that I learn from, and I'm not only interested in what they believe, but also how they came to believe it. Unfortunately, that seldom get's revealed, because of others only interested in bashing someone who disagrees with them.
I tire of nursing my bloody forehead as well. It mandates frequent respites from paying attention. I do believe I adhere to a policy reasonableness and politeness.
Even though I tire I think it's extremely important to continue, not to push the advancement of one party but, where I can, to set the record straight by pushing honesty and (small c) conservative values. The reason is that I do not see the totality of our condition improving anytime soon before it gets worse. I am though, in the long run, quite optimistic and I want to remain in the mix for when the turn around starts. In the mean time I might wake up just one or two neurons in other people. At the very least I do indeed learn a lot here, if only, but not exclusively, from defending my positions.
And I'm sure shit smells better but you're fucking funny sometimes. I like your post, good or bad but what the fuck. It's still funny shit. Just one questions, was it Agent Orange????