Reply To: The “Defend Something You Are Against” Challenge

This actually turned into a good thread while the mods were sleeping. Thank you everyone!

For those arguing this thread is pointless and even dangerous, I DO see the case you’re making, but I disagree, so long as:

* The topics are about things people here have multiple positions and opinions about, and not about snakes in your house
* The topics are not about things that are straight out written in the Torah (like murdering someone). I believe this is what Lilmod was concerned about

A major theme in the posts that oppose this challenge is that there is just one truth, so there either are no merits to the other side, it’s against the Torah to see the other side, or there is no other side. That is ONLY true about things like mentioned above. Not about the regular topics posted here all the time, like dating styles, how to deal with issues of tznius, shalom bayis, or the OTD population, political arguments, etc. etc.

The argument that this exercise is flawed because you shouldn’t be able to see the other side at all, is, I believe, flawed (ironic?) because it is WAY TOO EASY to get sucked into your own biases about an issue you feel strongly about, that you are blinded to seeing the other side’s virtues at all, and let’s be honest – there must be virtues for the other side or no one would hold of it.

We all do this, all the time. We think we’re seeking out truth and being completely impartial, but that is almost never the case. We all have inherent biases, and this is an exercise of overcoming those biases. This is NOT about trying to convince yourself the other side is right. On the contrary, if all it takes is a couple virtues for the opposition to convince you it’s right, you must not have thought your own side through deeply enough.

Avram, that’s actually funny and I appreciate your post! I definitely needed to dust off my brain for that one, although I still think my OP contains an important exercise we can all work through.

Carry on, and continue dusting off the brains.