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I find that I will often not post, or not indulge in the conversation because I already know how it's going to go. Mostly, I (and I assume others) aren't interested in replying unless we disagree. But having read through the threads... I don't want to participate in the flaming and the arguing and the personal attacks. There's no point in arguing, because as you say, no one is going to change their minds.
For me, I like to see other opinions on topics I don't know so much about. I might shift my own paradigm. Not on things I've decided already, but on new things, sure. Even when it's something I have a strong opinion about, I enjoy seeing the other side. I think I gain valuable insight and understanding. I need to know what they think, why they think, how they think - how else would I know that I feel differently?
I have conservative friends, the ones who are pro-life, or have never encountered a "real live gay"... I am NOT conservative. I have a lot of strongly held ideals. But that doesn't change the person I'm dealing with - they're still a good person, we just don't agree. And as long as we can leave it at that, we remain friends.
Perhaps it would help in our own forum to request a lecturer's approach. Set forth an idea for discussion, reveal your POV, discuss (as briefly as possible, please) why you think this way, and limit yourself to 5 pieces of "evidence". Try to go in with an open mind, to at least understand someone else, the "other side".
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My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.
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