Religion — Page 37

darth_ender said:

And honestly I think the ability to simultaneously hold ideas in your mind that you don't necessarily believe is a valuable trait.

It won me a scholarship one time back when I was in high school.  I was in the BofA scholarship regional finals, which is (or at least was, back then) a debate-style panel with the other dozen or so contestants.  We were given a question to debate, and when I saw it, I knew right away that most of the others would be arguing for a particular point that I happened also to believe in.  I made a conscious decision to argue the other side, even though I didn't believe in what I was arguing for.  The debate ended up being everyone versus me, and since I held my own, I stood out and thus emerged the winner.  That's the only time in my life that I have done that... it felt really risky, but I'm guessing that's what politicians do all the time.

darth_ender said:

God must have helped you out ;)

No - he is still punishing me for doing it :)

CP3S said:

Nobody has ever asked me to do a solo ...

Do a barrel roll solo.

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

I was in the BofA scholarship regional finals, which is (or at least was, back then) a debate-style panel with the other dozen or so contestants.  We were given a question to debate, and when I saw it, I knew right away that most of the others would be arguing for a particular point that I happened also to believe in.  I made a conscious decision to argue the other side, even though I didn't believe in what I was arguing for.  The debate ended up being everyone versus me, and since I held my own, I stood out and thus emerged the winner.  That's the only time in my life that I have done that... it felt really risky, but I'm guessing that's what politicians do all the time.

I did the same thing in debate.  I grew up in a very homogeneous area, and there was always a side that no one really wanted to take up.  I took pride in being able to debate positions I didn't believe, because it was then raw debate with personal feelings off the table.  Some people debate very emotionally and I've never seen that work (except for maybe my wife).

I won most of my debates (then, not now), and a few people would come up and tell me how I changed their opinions.  That felt kind of terrible.  I told them I didn't actually like the side I debated, but I'm not sure that mattered.

As you said, it's given me a distaste for lawyers and politicians and the desire to never be one.

blowfish said:

Oh it all makes sense now.. now I know why darth ender is a moron.

What, because he didn't join a debate team in his younger years?

Geeze...strict standards...

blowfish said:

I have no prob with you being Mormon or whatever. but you started the religion thread which tells me you are a religous fantic!

Hey, don't call Ender a religous fantic! (Not sure what exactly that is, but it doesn't sound complimentary; must be some new slur.) I've met Ender, and he's actually really nice! (His wives can be a bit overbearing at times, though.)

Bingowings said:

Every stage can be explained with what is happening to the brain and can be replicated without near death.