I've learned a lot about the nature of opinions. There are as many ways to approach a subject as there are people. I've read several comment threads where people were countering each other and yet I couldn't help but upmod both sides because of the excellent points that each side made. It's refreshing to see the different but valid perspectives. It adds color and breadth to understanding. It's also a tad bit intimidating knowing that no matter what I think, some smart person out there can poke holes in it if I try to generalize.

I've also learned to react to others' opinions in a more thoughtful and objective manner. The culture here encourages me to consider how people may interpret what I say. People here will listen to you if you speak calmly and rationally, even if you're misguided.

It's one thing to read comments written by people who know more about a subject than I do. It's quite another thing to read comments that are crafted with more emotional maturity and wisdom than I would have. That kind of experience just does not happen to me on other social news sites, and it is why I keep coming back here.