Um...
I've actually had occasions where I was arguing passionately for one position on a topic.
Then, something happened that often happens to me. I realized that the person I had been arguing with was on to something, but I adopted a position that was ostensibly similar but different in certain nuances.
And that person tried to make an argument out of those nuances.
And I said, "well, we're sort of in a similar position at this point, and we can agree that my earlier position is obviously grossly mistaken. I disagree on some of the details of why, but I think we have a consensus on that important point.
And that person said, "so why can't you just admit that you were wrong?"
And I said, "I have switched my positions entirely. The earlier position was based on incomplete information. I had failed to take certain things into account. I have corrected that, and let me try explaining the details of how I reached that conclusion and why I had previously held the other. It's very interesting. If you examine how these particular lots were actually divided up historically, you can see how I would have drawn the previous conclusion, but if you would read this old newspaper clipping I found..."
And that person became frustrated.
Other times, this has gotten me accused of trolling.
People tend to get very confused if you suddenly take sharp turns in your thinking. The psychology behind it is that, for most people, it's a stupid, vapid and empty "I'm king of the mountain" game.
For me, I'm putting together a puzzle, and I am very good at it.
24 Nov 2014, 1:27 am
