It's amazing how people refuse to admit they were wrong.

[johnaries]

But it is Human Nature. I have found that it is better to accept my own frailties and that I can be "wrong", and then learning from my mistakes. The result is that I am able to learn, and thus it is less often that I am wrong.

But if you research your own facts allow for the "other person's point of view" then you are better armed.

As the Cherokee said, "try to walk a mile in their moccasins".

Of course, you must not underestimate the ability of your opponent to to twist the truth. People tend to believe what they "want" to believe, which it makes it difficult to convince them of the truth. I know - you would think that people would respond to truth, but the opposite seems to be true if it can be twisted to be an "emotional" issue.

A perfect example is the so-called "cat-food commission" and the posts seen here on DU.

At first, the bi-partisan Fiscal Commission was declared to be dedicated to privatizing Social Security. This was proven wrong. So, rather than admitting that they were wrong, the same people change their accusations to they are cutting Social Security.

The only response I can think are the haunting lyrics from Stephen Stills:

"Paranoia it strikes deep:
Into your soul it will creep..."

[scheming daemons]

1. Your OP is wrong..... but you'll never admit it.

;-)

[johnaries]

3. Oh! THANK you!

PLEASE begin a serious discussion!

I really hate ambiguous posts with no references. Just like this one. But it seems that this type of unsubstituted post is the only kind that gets any type of attention, now.

Maybe I should have titled it "blonde kidnapped, Obama implicated".

[MrMickeysMom]

5. No it isn't!

:P

[johnaries]

6. How would you know? Huh? Neener-neener!

:hi:

[MrMickeysMom]

7. I might know at this hour...

... or I could be sleep arguing... ;-)

[Robb]

2. Being right over and over has left me a little numb, frankly.

:D

[johnaries]

4. Exhausting, isn't it?

[slipslidingaway]

8. President-Elect Obama Says Overhauling Entitlement Programs...

'A Central Part' Of Administration Spending Control Efforts

I heard entitlement spending and this was before the inauguration ...

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134879.php

"During a speech in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, President-elect Barack Obama said overhauling entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security will be "a central part" of his administration's efforts to curb federal spending, the New York Times reports (Zeleny/Harwood, New York Times, 1/8). Obama said, "We are beginning consultations with members of Congress around how we expect to approach the deficit," adding, "We expect that discussion around entitlements will be a part, a central part, of those plans" (Montgomery, Washington Post, 1/8)..."

[ZombieHorde]

9. Firstly, I agree with one is better off learning from intellectual mistakes.

Secondly, I don't know very much about this Social Security thing, could you post a link with some facts in it for me?

Thirdly, starting an OP with the word "it's" is strange. What is the "it's" referring to?

[tabatha]

12. It's means - it is.

"Its" is used for possession.

For example:

It's a little strange that the dog ate its food so early.

[ZombieHorde]

13. I understand "it's" means "it is." But what is "it" referring to? What is?

What is a little strange that the dog ate its food so early?

[tabatha]

14. maybe this time

"It's amazing how people refuse to admit they were wrong."

could be rewritten

The fact that people refuse to admit they were wrong is amazing.

I.E.,

the "it" refers to the fact that "people refuse to admit they were wrong".

Get it?

(The dog sentence was just an example to show the difference between it's and its.)

[RandomThoughts]

10. I realized that long ago.

However that does not change the effect of facts and reasoned arguments.

It only changes how it achieves getting society better.

Some learn from a well thought out argument, some entrench. But either way it has an effect, for those that entrench, I posted about that years ago.

Get them in their bunkers and close the exits.

[RandomThoughts]

11. There is another point to that.

On topics of existence, I admit I could be wrong, it would be silly to say anyone knows for sure, although I could be right also.

But here is the thing, wrong or right, I still choose what existence I would accept. If I was wrong and existence was bad, I would fight it with every ounce of kindness I could muster. And if I am right, I will share every ounce of kindness I can muster.

But my point is, in some things that can not be known for sure, you pick a side, not to hope to be on the right side, but because it would be the only side worth being on.

[Archae]

15. People have their pet beliefs.

And often times, those beliefs turn out to be pure bullshit.

When we're kids, we believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.
We grow out of those fairy tales.

Yet people continue to believe fairy tales about a guy up in the clouds with a beard who can do anything and knows everything.

Or people continue to believe in conspiracies that have nothing to back them up.

[Fumesucker]

16. Just the fact they are talking about SS at all on the commission is evidence that something

Is rotten in DC..

Since SS has nothing to do with the deficit and ordinary government expenditures.

But I don't expect you to admit that you might be wrong about something, that's for other people to do.