Constructive Responses

Hi ,mac .I would have asked that question myself ! I think the priority is to deliver your opinion , and try to bring other people around as much as you can ,that's what makes a rich discussion .Confrontation will lead to convictions ,and thats where the learning happens (learning how to convince others, learning what others think ,learning WHY others think what they think and how deep their convictions go , learning to be objective ,learn what everyone has in common etc ) .Defending and insisting on your opinion will either make you change other people's minds ,or learn from them . A lukewarm position frequently benefits nobody ,although it might get you HIGH RATINGS !!

Often it is our opinions which make what we post here, I think. And that is another personal opinion I am voicing out and I will have to wait for others to confirm that. Somehow when you express an opinion you can actually be convincing enough to bring people round to your way of thinking. There is no need for the dichotomy. But you did say that it affects one's rating. How?