--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: <snip> > It's funny that you brought this subject up, because I was > thinking of doing so earlier today. It's just such a > *pleasure* to see or participate in a mutually-respectful > interchange of ideas that I really don't see the *payoff* > for those who habitually have to turn them into a "clash" > of ideas. I don't understand what they *get* from such > clashes.
I think what you're missing is that some people engage in debate for the purpose of challenging their own beliefs. If you don't want to subject your beliefs to challenge, then a "mutually respectful discussion" is fine. Of course, a debate can also be mutually respectful; but the adversarial component is what provides the challenge, making you think deeply about your beliefs and refine or adjust them as necessary to meet the challenge.
