Do you enjoy a good debate or do you prefer keeping the peace?

Joanne's FAVORITE answer:
A good disareeement is better than contemplating your navel any day.Talking with someone who agrees with all the time is the quickest way to learn nothing.

Joanne's answer:
Hmmmm, I guess it really depends. I do like hearing other people's opinions of things (with the possible exception of their opinion of the decisions I make in my life!) and I do tend to find it difficult to keep my own opinions to myself...but the term "debate" almost necessarily implies "conflict" and "an attempt to change the mind of others" and I'm not sure I love doing those things. Well, actually, who am I kidding? I love to debate! Rene and I spend hours debating the most inane things, from the pros and cons of generic drugs to what kind of job/commuting behaviors we think are best for people that we barely even know to the true meaning of an "interaction"! We constantly find ourselves saying - after hours of ridiculous conversation - "Why are we even arguing about this?!". Ya, good times. =)

And the other answers!

As long as I win it doesn't matter.

I’m definitely a pacifist and, therefore, prefer keeping the peace. I find that much like many of my fellow liberals, I don’t know the specifics of the stance I take on things and am prone to slightly alter my views when I feel so inclined… That being said, when I do engage in a debate, particularly with conservatives, I rely upon human rights as my argument to make up for my lack of knowledge of the details of either side… I find I usually win based on passionately proving the lack of compassion and civility those damn conservatives demonstrate in their arguments! And by so clearly being right all the time, no further debate is necessary and I, therefore, am back to keeping the peace.

I am a liberal Democrat married to a Republican - of course I love a good debate. But, only when the person is well informed, or at least open-minded (my husband fits both of those categories). Otherwise, it is like talking to a brick wall and is a huge waste of time and energy. In those cases, I just like to smile and nod. I have to do this quite often with some of my in-laws who think that most issues are black-and-white. With them, and others like them, there is no use in debating. So, I just try and bite my tongue and keep the peace.

If its something im strongly opinionated about,i like a good debate....not to the point of a full on riot,i try to keep it peaceful..but i like to express my opinions when needed...

I love to debate. I know I’m always right.

A "good" debate would be enjoyable but most debates are not "good" and not fun so therefore I'd rather keep the peace and walk away. That is not to say that I won't get into a heated debate if I find the cause is right and I think I know what I'm talking about.

Keeping peace at all costs. There's enough debate in the world to create a 'hazardous noise area'.

Peace! I become a crybaby with any form of debate, argument, or confrontation.

A good debate *includes* keeping the peace. If someone thinks that debating means raising their voices and slamming doors then they are sadly misinformed.

I'm much more of a "Keep the Peace" person. I find that debates almost never succeed in changing anyone's mind, and instead serve only to deepen tensions. The exception to that is my husband - he has managed to change my mind about some things through debate and vice versa.

I enjoy a good debate.

I don’t mind a debate unless the individual I am debating with only speaks up to have a debate. In that case… always debating can be very annoying. A good healthy debate shouldn’t be every conversation that is struck up.

I love a good debate! I get a bit of a thrill out of trampling another person's argument into the ground. I can usually talk in circles around anyone and make them feel as if they aren't even sure what their original position was. It is a special skill (and my husband HATES it!).

DEBATE!