I was previously in favor of a "nobody should be allowed to own guns of any kind other than police and military" gun control policy. Discussions in the Backroom have since convinced me that it is reasonable to allow private citizens to own hunting rifles and shotguns.

I also have a much better understanding of American politics and point of view than I had before.

But the biggest impact the Backroom has had on me has been to drive my social views far to the left of where they were when I first ventured into the Tavern, mainly because I have had a chance to hear right-wing arguments that I used to use coming out of others' mouths, and have now realized how ridiculous many of them sound.

And that last was not meant as a slight or an insult; it's honestly how I feel.