Are you sure about that?

[Ziggy Stardust]

When I read the discussions here I am often amazed at the certainty some people seem to have in their opinions about subjects when there are others who completely disagree and are just as certain their opinion is right. When I am debating, I regularly start doubting and seeing the point in other people's arguments, but for the sake of argument I cling to my position. When this has happened I usually slowly phase out of the debate. It's not so much fun defending a position which you feel has holes in the defence, when the oposition is firing away at you.

As an example I decide to use the Iraq war. Because it's a pickle for me. I was in favour of going into Iraq. I didn't believe Saddam had substantial WMD capacity to be a threat to us. I didn't believe he was anything more than a nuicanse to us. But to the Iraqis it's a different story. I was in favour of going into Iraq to free those people of a dictator and to try to bring democracy and stability to the region. I was a hippy in favour of war. All the other hippies laughed and pointed at me. At the moment I'm doubtfull.

So, how sure are you that your position in this debate is the right one. 100% would mean that the oposition simply has no valid arguments. Nothing they say makes any sense. 50%, you're in limbo. The arguments in favour and the argument against balance each other out. And you find it hard to decide which ones have the most merit.

Please vote in the poll

edit: Not a public poll, since people might not want to give away their doubt and show weakness in this dog eat dog enviroment which is CFC-OT

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

I'm not 100% certain of anything. I don't think there are many things which we can be 100% certain about.

Before joining CFC there were many subjects which I felt 100% certain I was right but I've come to see the merits of the opposite view by some good arguments put forward by others. IglooDude always makes a good case on Gun Ownership, Elohir I think it was made a good point on abortion and there are others too. I might not agree with them, but I'm less certain that I am definately right on those issues than I was.

In my line of work it's always a good idea to question your own case. On CFC, there are plenty of good posters who will put forward an opposite view eloquently. If I've been able debate rather than argue with someone, we usually find the line in the sand where we disagree.

There are many on CFC however who are so certain their own cause is right, and put their argument across so awfully, than it's pointless engaging with them.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I should have ended my opening post with either:
- O yeah, God doesn't exist
- By the way, Gays have the right to marriage
- The VT killing clearly showed that guns should be banned
to get some traffic right?

54 views, 6 votes. So much for any statistical analyses I was planning to do.

OT, because I have to

Around the beginning of 2003, I started posting in forums. The intention for the war in Iraq was clear at that point. Everyone around me and including me was against it. But the arguments in favour of going into Iraq also made sense to me. During parties and in bars when the subject came up I found myself being the only one arguing in favour of going into iraq. This has happened to me on many other subjects as well. I find myself defending positions which I am attacking here. Just to make my friends consider the other side of the argument.

 

[Swedishguy]

Uh..... 60%?

 

[QuoVadisNation]

If I haven't studied it personally, I'm never sure about anything.

 

[silver 2039]

Its very difficult to be absoloutely certaina about things, perhpas even impossible. But you can be mostly certain about things.

 

[Elrohir]

I'm generally sure of everything I believe. I don't believe it's possible to be 100% sure, and to actually know anything completely, at least for human beings such as ourselves. But I'm pretty darn sure that I, and God, exist, and that Christianity is true. I'm less sure on other issues, like gun control or climate change, but even then it's over 50%. (If I was less than half sure, I would simply change my position)

Before joining CFC there were many subjects which I felt 100% certain I was right but I've come to see the merits of the opposite view by some good arguments put forward by others. IglooDude always makes a good case on Gun Ownership, Elohir I think it was made a good point on abortion and there are others too.

It's Elrohir, actually, but thanks.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

That's why I didn't take religion as an example, since believe or faith can be 100% positive. And you're right about the 50%. That's why the polloptions don't go lower than that.

I am curious who voted 100% though.

 

[TopDog]

70%, but im only about 60% sure of that

I am 100% sure i would like the money however.

 

[pboily]

In mathematics threads, I am 100% sure when I have a proof. I am also certain it is possible for us to know certain things with 100% certainty (in Euclidean geometry, the shortest path between 2 points is a line segment, or that the Expos never won the World Series, say), but that these are not necessarily interesting things to know.

I'm with Elrohir on the 50% rule: if I'm less than 50% certain, my position has changed. But I also think that if I'm less than 100% certain, you might as well take any position you feel like taking on the issue.

So I'm pretty certain that God does not exist and that all religions are false.

EDIT: corrected a mis-writing

 

[Urederra]

I voted 70 %. mainly because I expected a better support from the iraqi people.

 

[Elrohir]

I'm with Elrohir on the 50% rule: if I'm less than 50% certain, my position has changed. But I also think that if you're less than 100% certain, you might as well take any position you feel like taking.

So if you're 90% sure that God exists, and 10% unsure, you should be an agnostic? I'm afraid I don't understand. Why shouldn't you support the position you believe is most likely the most true if you can't prove it one way or the other?

 

[pboily]

What I mean is that if I'm less than 100% certain that something is true, I can't fault you for taking a position other than mine, even if I think you are wrong. (But I mis-wrote that)

 

[JohnRM]

I voted 90 percent.

I would say that I am almost certain that I am right about everything, but I know that isn't true. I know that there are certain things that I misunderstand or that I am unaware of that would influence my opinions. I also know that I can react quite emotionally to certain things which may cloud my judgment.

 

[Elrohir]

What I mean is that if I'm less than 100% certain that something is true, I can't fault you for taking a position other than mine, even if I think you are wrong. (But I mis-wrote that)

Ahh, ok. That makes more sense. I disagree, of course, but that makes a lot more sense than what I thought you said.

 

[Shadylookin]

generally if I have an opinion on something I think my opinion is right else why have an opinion. however when it comes to posting I generally refrain from doing so unless I have a well thought out one.

 

[GinandTonic]

I'm not 100% certain of anything. I don't think there are many things which we can be 100% certain about.

Before joining CFC there were many subjects which I felt 100% certain I was right but I've come to see the merits of the opposite view by some good arguments put forward by others. IglooDude always makes a good case on Gun Ownership, Elohir I think it was made a good point on abortion and there are others too. I might not agree with them, but I'm less certain that I am definately right on those issues than I was.

Igloo's defence has made me examine my position. The anti-abortion arguements havnt persuaded me a jot, but at least I can understand how educated people can hold such views. It is a good thing to be challenged and not just agree with people who have the same views as yourself.

As an example I decide to use the Iraq war. Because it's a pickle for me. I was in favour of going into Iraq. I didn't believe Saddam had substantial WMD capacity to be a threat to us. I didn't believe he was anything more than a nuicanse to us. But to the Iraqis it's a different story. I was in favour of going into Iraq to free those people of a dictator and to try to bring democracy and stability to the region. I was a hippy in favour of war. All the other hippies laughed and pointed at me. At the moment I'm doubtfull.

I hear you buddy - I was a similar hippy. Although I was against going in because I didnt think it would work the other hippies didnt like it when I disagreed with their reasons for not wanting to go in.

OT - 80-90% Less than that an it is more of a knee-jerk than a belief, and none of us can be 100% on anything complex.

 

[Perfection]

Depends on what I'm debating. When it's not involving science, I'm fairly ignorant and freely acknowledge that my opinions are little more then vague preferences.

 

[Red Door]

I'd say 75%, most of my Christian statements are correct in a Catholic stance, but I realize I need some brushing up in my politics and economics.

 

[nc-1701]

90%, but it depends sometimes total or near total certainty others...