I wouldn't say there are any winners in a debate...or rather that isn't the point. Also if someone is opinionated (there's a better word somewhere) enough to participate in a real debate, then usually their minds are not going to change...at least in my experience. I don't think changing the other person's mind should be the point, anyway.
I used to participate in (very heated) internet debates a lot a few years ago and I think I actually learned some practical things from it. The debates back then were mostly dog-related (dog care, training, nutrition, etc), but still. Over time I began to learn how to debate properly, from practice and observing others. (I learned some thinks from my dad, too, him being a pretty good critical thinker. He was a staunch IFB (which I no longer am), but questioned things that at the time I just thought were unquestionable.)
And debates have at times forced me to research my own position a little better!
Insults and taunting are thrown around quite a lot on here. Some threads I'm just sitting there and feel like banging my head into the wall after reading it.
But then I used to be horrible about that a few years ago. Hoo boy. But it was kinda fun, too, even though getting back what I dished out at others made me pretty angry sometimes.:laugh:
These days I try my best to avoid that, I try to show others the same respect I'd like to be shown. That, and attacking the person instead of the argument is a logical fallacy and does nothing to win the argument. In fact it can mean that they've just run out of counter-arguments.:tongue3:
I also try my best to completely ignore any insults thrown at me and address only the argument presented. But...that's still a little hard to do sometimes.
Most of the time I try to avoid the...what's the word...serious debates, I guess. I prefer to observe those rather than participate in them. I'm capable of good debate, but I find it stressful at the same time and just need to drop out at some point. (At the same time, I think I might run away from those too much and as a result my mind doesn't stay as sharp as it would if I didn't avoid debating.)
Overall I prefer light debate, where you can disagree and bring up points, but you're not necessarily expected to defend your position to the same extent. Which may be more accurately described as a discussion.
And if I'm going to be perfectly honest, there are a few topics that I prefer to avoid to some degree or another or even altogether due to some personal hang-ups. When I do engage in these debates, I have to watch myself and my attitude very closely.
