I thought to myself "Gee, I was a fucking idiot back then."

This happens to me A LOT. Though, I suppose, overall, it is a good sign, as it signifies your knowledge and intelligence has increased since that point.

I learned that most people tend to follow emotions rather then logic, myself included but I also learned that no matter how much I disagree or dislike something I can not let my emotions control my reason, if I do then I might as well call myself a conservative republican, about 20 years ago I was just that and didn't even know it, I made choices back then based on my own personal interest first regardless of the overall effect, sad to say I was lost.

Thanks to learning to have an open mind, the Internet, debates, science and lessons from history I have learned to suppress those emotions for the greater good, I am no longer a slave to my emotions and have overall became a better person as a result of this, but my work is far from over I still got many things to learn and will continue to search for truth though reason, logic and science till the day that I die.

Well I learned to be respectful because in my previous posts or arguments I was really rude to people and saying obnoxious things to people and I remember getting tons of down-votes for that and now I look at my posts now it seems that I have matured and my knowledge and logic increased as I have been on this site a lot.

Now I think before I post things and make sure what I am saying is right to say and not rude but kind and respectful of others and I think about my opinions and what my beliefs say about it as well.

I've become almost completely convinced that the learning process that accompanies give and take conversations, is by far superior to simply being an "ideological consumer" who is either listening to lectures or has their nose stuck in a book. Also, that a peer to peer learning arrangements where the line between teacher and student is obliterated, is all I am willing to accept anymore. Also that slow thinkers like myself are no longer stuck on the sidelines just because we aren't masters of snappy comebacks and quick wit like is necessary if one expects to do well in more traditional debating forums.

Hmmm? I just looked through some of my old posts and thought... "Damn! I was drunk back then". Awe, the good ole days.