VoidAngel wrote:
No, seriously, any persuasive enough argument made to any thinking person will change their mind - or at least cause them to really think about their position. They may not admit that you were right, but ideas take time to germinate. Realization may come day, weeks, or years later - but it happens.
And I would argue that electronic comunication mediums like the internet, especially when used in an anonimous capacity with no attached implications to one's real life breeds quite the opposite.
In fact a good many people will argue a point until they meet resistance and then switch to an antagonistic and dismissive stance comlete with lolpics, witty quips, the assorted "internet toughguy" responses or whatever other forms of internet interference they deem most fitting for the given discussion. The internet allows escapism from true honest dialogue.
Internet allows and even encourages people to say things and act in a way that most would not attempt in a true face to face social interaction, purely because of the detachment from those they are "communicating" with and the impunity the format provides.