I should of been born a couple hundred years ago. At least with the fashion of a hundred years ago... and the life style. Though I wouldn't mind having computers and internet along with Renissance lifestyle. Is it weird that I actually like that time so much better? Is it weird that I wish people still had large families that stayed toghther, no TV, did work, and just, I don't know, acted differently. I'm sure I've romanticized the past, and it's full of all the same problems we have today. But damn, wouldn't it be nice if it was actually the way I see it in my head. That would just be amazing.

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I've been having a lot of discussions/debates lately that I've gotten very emotional in. This isn't really usual for me. I'm usually one to stay pretty cold during a debate, because it's easier for people to listen to what I'm saying that way. Instead of just seeing that I'm saying something and dismissing me. But lately, I've definitely been emotional in such debates, and I've purposely used emotion in discussions to try and sway people. This is very unusual for me. But one thing I have realized, all of these debates have revolved around gay rights. In whatever form. With everyone I've talked to about how I'm arguing now, they think it's a negative thing. They seem to think I'm losing my ability to effectively debate, because I've started using emotion. But I'm slowly realizing that they may be mistaken. After all, if you can you emotion to sway another person, why wouldn't you?

I guess it all comes down to why you are debating something. If you are debating as an intellectual pursuit, to try to learn more about both sides, and about the subject material, then maybe emotion is counterproductive. But when I debate gay right at this point in time, that's not why. I'm not doing it to educate myself, and I've gotten to the point where I'm not doing it to educate others, at least not directly. I'm doing it to make people realize the harm they are doing. I'm doing it in an attempt to cause change in the world. To get something done. Maybe that makes me low, maybe that makes me scheming. But I don't care what it makes of my character, it's more important to me that I work as hard as I can for change. Even if it means I lose some bit of my integrity.

But if you are working for change, shouldn't you use whatever tools you have? Cold logic can be a very effective tool for some people. I used it to learn the reasons (or justifications) the other side of the gay rights debate had. I used it to convince a lot of people that maybe there was more to the issue than they originally thought. But when it comes down to it, no matter how many facts you put in front of some people's face, no matter how clear cut you make the issue, certain people just won't listen. They refuse to hear your arguments. Does that mean we should just give up on them changing their view? Not without trying on all the tools. If I can use emotion to change someones opinion that is otherwise unchangeable, well then I'll use it. No matter what it makes me seem. For certain people, playing on their emotions is all that works. This doesn't mean you are tricking them, everything emotional I say is true. This is an issue that is full of emotions, they are there. And if they can be used, they should be. Use every tool you have available.

Writing this I keep feeling like I'm losing some sense of objective integrity. That doesn't make sense probably, but it does to me. I guess it's sad in a way that you can't just use arguments anymore. It's sad that there are people that require you use emotion in a debate. But that's the reality of the situation. And I'm not going to keep the status quo just because I'm too afraid to use every tool I've got.

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