[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

This is more of an American thing but probably applies here too - people on the right are more open to dialogue and discussion, whereas those on the left just shut out any opposing views.

(Obviously this excludes far right nutters)

I don't think it matters particularly when neither are open to change in opinion; if you want a firm example of this the "...change my mind" youtube videos are a great one. He discusses well, he articulates well, he listens fairly respectfully and maintains a decent intellectual discourse.

However his ideas are already set in concrete and he is very, very rarely open to "having his mind changed" and therein lies the problem. There's no point in open dialogue and discussion when the end result is the same unwavering dogma at the end of the discussion as at the beginning.

And this is where I don't think it's a political spectrum phenomena or a generational one; it's purely down to age. As we get older, we get better at accepting that we usually aren't going to change people's opinions, and thus, less frustrated when we try and fail, and more open to "agreeing to disagree" and then moving on and compartmentalising the discussion. Which is a good skill to have but it's one that most (vaguely intelligent) people gain with age and experience.