Quote of the Day

"Rule one is scarily simple. You will never change anyone’s mind on a matter of opinion. Someone going into an argument believing one thing, and coming out the other side not believing it is a freak occurrence ranking somewhere alongside virgin birth and victorious English sporting teams. People change their minds gradually, and if anything a prolonged argument only serves to back someone into a corner, huddling closer to the security blanket of what they believe.

Correcting a factual error is much easier, but never confuse correcting a factual error with changing the opinions that fact was being used to support. The opinion will survive in the absence of the fact, until a new fact is found to justify it. (See also, the many reasons for invading Iraq)."

--from "Charles' Rule of Argument" at The Fishbowl

I'm really getting tired of watching the endless partisan bickering on CNN and even the PBS Newshour. No one ever gives an inch, and it simply becomes a test of debating skills and media presence. I suppose the idea is that both sides of an issue get presented and then viewers can make up their own minds. But with all the furious "spinning" going on in these verbal slug matches, it's hard to see how an objective viewer could form a firm opinion. And how many people who are inclined to watch these public affairs shows haven't already made up their minds on the major issues of the day? I know I have. (So why do I watch them? Masochism, I guess.) As the country has become more bitterly divided, I think the debate format these shows employ has exhausted whatever usefulness it may have had--except as an vulgar way to draw ratings. At this point, I'd much rather watch a bunch of boring TV journalists sitting around and at least attempting to be objective. It's going to be a long eight months until November.