61 replies to this topic

[Maximus Decimus]

I've just finished reading the autobiography of one of my heroes, Christopher Hitchens, who famously accepted that the cause he had fought for the majority of his life had been wrong or at the very least unworkable. I was wondering if anybody on here has had any of these moments where they realised, either over a long period or a sudden revelation, that an opinion that they had held strongly was wrong?

I'm relatively young so any of these realisations I've had can usually be put down to youthful exuberance or a misunderstanding of the topic. For instance I used to see myself in my mid teens as a bit of a Communist without fully understanding it. Whilst still being left of the spectrum I'm not ashamed to admit that I was wrong on this subject.

The only real example I can think of at the moment where I completely changed my view, about with regards to Rugby League against Union. For a long time I held the view that RL was infinitely superior to Union in every way and that the reasons for the difference in popularity were purely down to prejudice and circumstance. From this I thought that all RL needed to do was get itself seen and it would spread like wildfire. Over time I've come to accept that Union is simply a different version of the game that many people prefer and if introduced to RL dislike the simplicity that most of us love.

This may not seem like much of a shift but I used to be vehemently anti-Union to the point it affected my opinions of people. Partly I have just grown up but my opinion on the two sports is totally different to what it was a decade ago and I will even watch the odd game of Union now if there is nothing else on.

[Bob8]

I've just finished reading the autobiography of one of my heroes, Christopher Hitchens, who famously accepted that the cause he had fought for the majority of his life had been wrong or at the very least unworkable. I was wondering if anybody on here has had any of these moments where they realised, either over a long period or a sudden revelation, that an opinion that they had held strongly was wrong?

I'm relatively young so any of these realisations I've had can usually be put down to youthful exuberance or a misunderstanding of the topic. For instance I used to see myself in my mid teens as a bit of a Communist without fully understanding it. Whilst still being left of the spectrum I'm not ashamed to admit that I was wrong on this subject.

The only real example I can think of at the moment where I completely changed my view, about with regards to Rugby League against Union. For a long time I held the view that RL was infinitely superior to Union in every way and that the reasons for the difference in popularity were purely down to prejudice and circumstance. From this I thought that all RL needed to do was get itself seen and it would spread like wildfire. Over time I've come to accept that Union is simply a different version of the game that many people prefer and if introduced to RL dislike the simplicity that most of us love.

This may not seem like much of a shift but I used to be vehemently anti-Union to the point it affected my opinions of people. Partly I have just grown up but my opinion on the two sports is totally different to what it was a decade ago and I will even watch the odd game of Union now if there is nothing else on.

Would I be right in thinking that 2000 was rather a turning point for you regarding rugby league and union? Certainly, I have come to accept that many of rugby league weaknesses are self-inflicted adn many of the people who claim affection for the sport would hate for it to expand and grow (not the obvious suspects either, Phil Hodgson is a man I do not include in this and have a great deal of respect for).

I think one thing that changed my views was that I realised how differently people saw the world to me. Initially, this made me more left wing as I realised that many people I disagreed with, but seemed reasonable were fibbing about what they thought, which was an odd thought for me at the time.

I was a leftie of the bleeding heart variety. Now I am fairly hard-nosed, those who have a tougher life will have to be tougher. However, there are many who deep in their heart believe their own good fortune is because they are innately desverving, but there are few people who would ever say that and it makes reasonable discussion of these things near impossible.

There is the stage of getting older that means you stop trying to change the world and content yourself with getting by as it is. That is more practical, but also why youth is very necessary. I have some of my views because of practical experince, but some because I am just older. Another alteration is that we are no longer seeking our identiity through our views as we might have done when we were younger. Things are less personal, and therefore less black and white, as we will not define ourselves by our sport of politics.

[Saint Billinge]

I'm finding it hard to think of anything. I have changed my opinion on certain people, having got to know them better. With regards to rugby union, it's still not my cup of tea.

I have changed my opinion on red wine and whiskey which I now enjoy. Used to hate the stuff.

I have my moans but enjoy life to its limits. There is so much to do, it seems strange hearing people go on about being bored.

[Johnoco]

I was a vegetarian for 10 years and strongly into animal rights and that. Then gradually I found I didn't agree with it anymore and was only keeping up appearances. I was involved in the Anarcho scene too until I learnt that a lot of the people involved were more selfish and full of ###### than the people they wanted rid of.

Like MD & Bob8, I've changed my view on the position RL finds itself in. I used to believe it was held back (which is true to a big degree) but the biggest thing holding it back has been and still is itself.

[Wolford6]

As you get older, you get a lot more accepting of other people's opinions. Also, you find that you can have friendships with people whose views on serious topics are diametrically opposite to yours. In developing those friendships you realise that you do not necessarily know as much about certain subjects as you thought you did.

For me, examples of a completely changed opinion would be: -
- I'm in favour of hunting, though wouldn't go myself
- I could vote for another party other than Labour, but not for the Tories or BNP.
- I can understand and don't object to people sending their children to private schools.

However, some things have never yet changed:

- I couldn't go out with any woman who has cats, tattoos or smokes
- I am automatically opposed to any policy proposed by Blair, David Miliband or Mandelson
- I am opposed to any more immigration
- I am opposed to students being charged tuition fees ... pay them dole
- I would love to see the UK withdraw from the EEC
- I would love to see the UK bring back capital punishment

[LEEDSLADGONE SOUTH]

When I wer a lad, I didn't mind warrington as a club. Now can't feckin' stand them

[LEEDSLADGONE SOUTH]

- I couldn't go out with any woman who has cats, tattoos or smokes

My screening process used to be cats, smokes, vegetarian.

[shrek]

For me, examples of a completely changed opinion would be: -
- I'm in favour of hunting, though wouldn't go myself

Same here, our very own Number 16 managed to change my opinion from being anti to pro in the space of a few pints whilst en-route to the League version of the Varsity match many moons ago in Richmond.

Would also agree our opinions change with age/over time, mine certainly have on a range of issues.

[WearyRhino]

I've just finished reading the autobiography of one of my heroes, Christopher Hitchens, who famously accepted that the cause he had fought for the majority of his life had been wrong or at the very least unworkable.

Christopher Hitchens, like his brother Peter, is apt to say things just to get attention. I think he rather backtracked on his earlier 'proclamation' in his recent valedictory interview with Paxman.

[Trojan]

I was brought up in a strongly Methodist family and used to be a fairly committed Christian. I'm not any more. It wasn't a sudden thing, it happened gradually. I now believe it to be nonsense. However, the values that my upbringing gave me remain with me. My view of what's right and what's wrong may be "wrong" but I can't help it. As the Jesuits say "give me the boy unitil he is seven and I will give you the man"
I certainly changed my allegiance as far as Rugby goes, from 1960 until 1980 I was a Wakey fan, I've been a Fev fan ever since. This has nothing to do with success, but the belief in 1980 that those running Wakefield were taking the ####. I think they still are.

[Andrew Vause]

I have changed my mind on many things. The one thing that has remained constant for 40 years and still bores me s******** is people talking politics.

[goldcard]

I used to think my ex-wife was the most wonderful woman on the planet.I have since realised she's just an insane bitter psycho....

[Padge]

I have changed my opinion on 'spicy' foods, used to hate them, now love them.

I have changed my opinion of Union, I used to tolerate it, I now detest it.

I have changed my opinion of soccer, it used to be a good sport, its now a ridiculous and obnoxious catwalk.

I have changed my opinion about a lot of people on here, usually after I have met them.

[Johnoco]

I have changed my opinion about a lot of people on here, usually after I have met them.

That's a good point. I'm pretty sure most people on message boards would get on well in the flesh, it's just that you often say things you don't quite mean or they come across differently to what you intended.

I met that Shadow once in Cardiff, he was at the bar holding a copy of Rah Rah weekly, or rather his manservant was.

[Trojan]

I have changed my opinion on 'spicy' foods, used to hate them, now love them.

I certainly changed my opinion there. But a long time ago. If I went to a restaurant, if it wasn't steak, chips, mushrooms, onion rings etc. I didn't want to know.
On Boxing Day 1965 (yes that long ago) I went with two mates to Headingley to the Leeds/Wakey game, then for a Chinese Meal in Leeds, I'd never had one before and ordered Chop Suey, I couldn't finish the meal. That put me off Chinese food for the next five years. I was persuaded to give it another try and had chicken curry and chips - not authentic Chinese but I enjoyed it.
On a holiday in London, having eaten Chinese food we decided to chance an Indian. I was sold. I started to cook Indian the following year - and in those days the ingredients were not easy to come by - I finished up in a Polish Deli on Chapeltown Road. Where once I wouldn't even darken the door of the most modest Chinese, now I'll try anything anywhere. My favourite curry house is a place in Bradford, at the bottom of Lumb Lane, with formica tables and can only be described as "basic" I love it.

[Bulletproof]

I've changed my mind lots of times. It's a massive egotistical weakness if you aren't prepared to change your position.

I used to stand up for the average religious person and maintained that no matter what their church is doing, they should be left alone and respected as most of them are reasonable. I was ambiguous about the existence of god at the time too. I was brought up on religion and so cannot pinpoint when I stopped being a believer because it was just a fact of life in my childhood.

Sort of a live and let live was my position. I've argued about it enough in the past. But I no longer believe it. I don't think religion should be respected any more than any other unproven belief, and needs to be discouraged from any public body. Schools, government, any. Secularity is essential. Let them support themself, and let them have the same creditability as everyone else. I.e. stand by your opinions and let them be challenged. I recall a proposed sex shop in our town being stopped by some of the aforementioned "reasonable" people. Now before the jokes come out, I wouldn't be stupid enough to actually go to one of these even if I was inclined to experiment, theres the internet for that or out of town shops so I wasn't angry about them forcing it out. It was mostly the forcing of their opinions onto everyone else about what should and should not be acceptable. If the people didn't want it it would have gone out of business. We'll decide. Don't picket it for the minority offended every time you open your gob. Let it run its natural course.

So I get angry about religion trying to put creationism into classrooms and trying to judge the rest of us. I do still lament the double standards of some in the left who will attack christianity every time the subject comes up but will jump to the defence of islam. I don't know why anyone defends it any more than scientology.

I've changed my mind on music, at least my tastes have gotten milder as I get older and I'm more interested in electronics and acoustics than attitude.

Yeah, be prepared to change. Just don't lie to yourself.

[Saint Billinge]

While eating in a cafe in Wales, an old lady said to her friend: "As you get older you have to accept change and be prepared to accept you cannot do everything you used to be able to". Wise words because some people cannot accept they are no longer capable of certain tasks. My brother hung himself simply because he couldn't mend watches and clocks anymore, even though he hadn't any money problems.

Back to the two old ladies, it took them a half-hour to order just a cup of tea because they were too busy yapping.

Great thread by the way and very interesting. I'm sure I'll come up with something else.

[amh]

As a woman, I change my mind when ever I feel like it

My opinions though change rarely, once I've decided what I think of something or someone, I find it hard to budge. Although, I do think meeting people (from here or anywhere else) rather than electronic conversations, emails etc, can enhance that opinion. Not always positive, more of an affirmation, wimmins intuition you see

Taste in food, dress, places to go etc, have changed over the years - quite normal I think

Politics, religion etc - I have very middle of the road opinions, and avoid conversations about them, as they normally turn to arguments and negativity - I have always felt that way. Being force fed religion, also attending an all girls catholic grammar taught by nuns, nearly made me go completely against it, but when my mum died I found it helped a great deal.

[Wiltshire Rhino]

Someone gave me a best of Bob Dylan cd, I listened to it, didn't get it. It sat on the cd shelf for a few years until for some reason I put it in the stereo again. I GOT IT and now consider Bob Dylan to be the only true musical genius.

I was also brought up as a football fan and thought it was the greatest game but now can't stand the game, apart from Swindon Town and my son's team. Discovered Rugby League in 1988 (Henderson Gill's boogie and Mike Gregory etc) and now KNOW it to be the greatest game.

As for drinking, started on cider, went to lager, then to beer (Tetleys, John Smiths), then to proper beers with wierd names like Badger's ###### or something like that, then Guinness on my first trip to Ireland and now back to the cider like the true country boy that I am should be drinking.

Edited by Wiltshire Rhino, 30 December 2010 - 08:01 AM.

[JohnM]

Ever had one? Had plenty! The, I have had plenty of time at it.

At the simplest level, hated the Simsons/Friends/etc etc, now I can't get enough.

At a serious level, changed my mind and was pleased to see Blair elected.

Soon changed my mind back again when I realised that the huge increase in public expenditure was going on the creation of non jobs not in improved services.

Irrevocable changed my mind when Brown as anointed Prime Minister...He and Blair should hang their heads in shame for what they have done to our great county.

Changed mu mind about soccer, too and am now quite an avid follower.

There is nothing wrong with changing your mind. It is a sign of a mature person!