How much do you let other's opinions influence you?

Can you easily be swayed by a persuasive article? Or do you throw your beliefs behind a wall and refuse to listen to anyone else's side of view?

How many times has an article/opinion changed yours?

For me, only a select few times have my views on certain things changed. For one, I stopped believing in God when I did research and found the bible to be a lot worse than I thought (I hadn't read it before), and later went on to realize that God/faith just doesn't work for me, I'm not a spiritual person and never have been.

I used to be opposed to drugs being illegal as well, but over time I've come to the opinion that if people are going to do drugs, they'll find a way to get them. So why not make them legal and tax them? We can slowly start digging our way out of this debt hole.

How about you guys?

I have been persuaded by well reasoned and cited books at times. If I respect someone, it is much easier for them to influence me (whether I agree with them or not, I may still do it out of respect), but I respect very few people so it is not much of a hindrance. As far as debates go, the only times that I have been persuaded is when they make me aware of a flaw in my logic, which I like to think is rare, rather than just giving valid reasons for their own stance.

quote person_47

No changing your mind = ignorant person.

Changing your mind too easily = naive tool.

I think there is a healthy medium. Without skepticism, where would we be?

Edit-

quote Sheldon Cooper

You know me as a smart man. Don't you think if I were wrong, I'd know it?

Edit: Jan 11, 13 3:46pm

I try to keep an open mind when it comes to issues. I just don't think that my arguments are all completely infallible (and you'd have to be incredibly egotistic to think that they were) and that there's always more information that you just might not be aware of. A good argument, with solid facts or logical reasoning to back up the standpoint can easily sway me. But it has to have both of those in order to stand its ground; I'm not just going to change my opinion because someone else has a different one.

More than anything, I like to hear how people have come up with their own opinions, and not just what that opinion is.

I very seldom allow the opinions of others to affect my life.

Only if the person is making what i consider a very good point or if its a subject or topic where i dont have a decent understanding. But im honest about that.

Everyone has varying opinions. I accept that. I dont try to change others and i dont let them change mine on most matters.

That all being said i am the first to appologise and adapt if i am proven wrong on something. Its nothing to be ashamed of. Too many people let it get to them. Being wrong is just part of life.

As Mouldy Cheese said i am more interested in motivations and intentions behind an opinion. Not necessarily the opinion itself.

I know very little and I believe even less... some would say that my existence is a very sad one, but I find it to be rather enjoyable. So I'd say that the opinions of others only effect me if I share said opinion (meaning it doesn't really effect me at all)

Yes, I'm biased towards my own subjective interpretation of reality, but... aren't we all on some level?

quote madewale

I hear what other people say and if it makes any sense, I tend to get influenced by them. I think i am bit too naive.

This is partly true in my case, I tend to keep a bit of distance until I know more about the truth, not to say I don't trust people, but I let them prove what they say first.

A person's opinions should change with age, especially as different things become more important than others. Getting influenced by other people just seems to be naivety. Your opinion is your own and it should be informed by opinions on all sides of the spectrum.