Is it ever really worth the trouble posting about controversial topics such as abortion on internet forums?
by 
lady fuschia
ANSWERS: 3
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It depends what sort of answers you are looking for. With such topics most people see them as very black and white, so you will get more extreme views, often with no real justifications to back them up. There are some people who try to keep more of an open mind about these things, but can get very quickly dragged into defending a comment or point of view, leading to a narrowing of the discussion beyond sensibility. The main topics, I think, that tend to lead to strife without achieving concensus are religion, politics, war, and abortion. That is definitely not exhaustive, as I am sure will be pointed out. I am just saying that there are no clear-cut answers to such large questions and that it comes down to personal conscience/ethics/morals/culture/tradition/etc. as to how any individual perceives such questions.
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I believe it is. I have posted answers to questions on religion, politics and war in the full knowledge that I was going to receive bad ratings from at least one person and that I would be attacked, shunned or disagreed with. Someone once even sent me an e- mail saying "go fuck yourself you pillock". I think debate is always healthy, to see that other people agree with you is nice, and to see people disagree is reassuring that we're not all brainwashed idiots. I think then that it is always a good thing to express your opinion, even when you know people will attack you for it, but it is difficult not to get caught up in a mud slinging match sometimes, which is not what the site is for. Make your opinion, respect others opinions, but be careful not to let the discussion degenerate into mud slinging. That's how I think it should be, but i fully understand anyone to doesn't want to get involved, it can be a pain in the neck.
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Some people who post such questions genuinely seem to want to know why others have the convictions they have. I read the controversial topics because I too am curious about what makes other people "tick". When I post to such topics it's to try to add an aspect that I haven't seen mentioned yet. You are right that you are unlikely to change anyone's mind in this forum, but you really aren't likely to change anyone's mind in ANY forum. Sometimes a fresh perspective can at least explain why a lot of people act as they do. Answers Like "abortion is wrong" don't do anyone any good, that is true -- but if they take the time to explain why they reached that conclusion it gives some insight into the human condition.
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