Can you have an argument or ....

[OnBendedKnee]

[user=20]The Antagonist[/user] wrote:

I love a healthy debate.
Arguing though takes too much effort and requires a level of caring I don't have.

I've learned too that if I listen more than speak I pick up on an opinion that at times has changed mine.

Yah but I'm talking about a good ol' argument where it gets heated a bit.

I have a friend since, well make that two friends since my single digit age and both of them I've had some out and out battles with and we're still friends to this day. We know each other so well that we don't let much get in our way.

I think also that because we actually KNOW how to argue instead of throwing everything in plus the kitchen sink and staying on topic, it helps.

I've also been on the other side of it many times where those who I thought had a reasonable mind were too emotionally retarded to even have a rational discussion.

OK, I better get what you're expressing.
There's a guy at work who loves to debate religion.
He knows I used to be a Mormon and am now an atheist.
He's still an active Mormon.
At first our discussions would turn slightly heated but we both figured out that was going to get us nowhere and it was either learn to not argue our points or simply walk away and not talk about the subject at all.

Now it just never gets to the point of getting heated and I've picked up a couple of ideas from him. Perhaps he has too. Either way, we enjoy the differences of opinion and don't let those exact differences distract us.