yes.
Screw feelings. The truth is worth discovering.
tell that to everyone who thinks their feelings are the only truth there is.
Yeah, I like to piss off Liberals and Nazis.
Pro tip: Never open your inbox.
That’s a strong magic right there.
I want her feet
There’s a weird dynamic to arguing online, particularly when it comes to political topics. Most of the time, you won’t convince your counterpart. Maybe some point sticks with them later and you’ll never know, but either way they’re not really the target of the arguments. It’s the (potential) audience that the argument is supposed to be for: People less emotionally invested in the conflict may take away something useful from the arguments, people on the fence about an issue might come around to your point, and people sharing your opinion will see that they’re not alone and feel affirmed.
Essentially, it’s a performance on an public stage for the sake of discourse. Phrased strongly, you don’t want “the other side” to dominate the public opinion, so you engage them. In the process, you may hone your own arguments, or you may find them wanting, perhaps even see them start to crack.
i think that’s true in large social media spaces, but not so much in smaller focused forums.
but since the latter doesn’t really exist anymore, it is kind of irrelevant.
People mostly respond to your presentation and how it makes them feel, not the content of what you are saying. Hence why most people objecting to you won’t even object to what you say, they will object to their interpretation of what you said and how it made them feel.
I used to enjoy it a while back, now not so much. As long as people understand this is not how you change the world, you are doing this for yourself.
My favorite place to go to argue with people is the minutephysics’ portal paradox videos. People are extremely firm in their conclusions (me included). That makes it an interesting place for practicing on making fair, understandable arguments against people who are firmly locked on the opposite side.
It’s a relief to have those heated arguments without having it about something that directly involves people’s lives.
arguing, no. discussing, sure
That’s the key to human interaction in general online or offline. Don’t argue with people, communicate with them.
it doesn’t matter if you do that, if they don’t.
this is like the classic ‘just tell them’ reply to relationship issues… what people forget is that people don’t listen. and if you tell them, they don’t listen, well then you’re going no where. it also assumes people aren’t trying to win, when often, they are. some folks regard communication, understanding, and compromise, as themselves losing.
it requires two parties standing on the same ground and working from the same place, which is rare to find.
Was it worth it?
Well, we’re clearly sitting on a picturesque beach on the Spanish Med, so… yeah? Sure, getting SWATted was no fun, and the bogus restraining orders were a real hassle, but ever since we had no choice but to leave the US things got a lot better.
Now, how about some sunscreen babe? You’re gonna burn like that.
Other people in this thread have already said it better than I could but in brief: Yes
Arguing with trolls is probably more likely. People who serial reply lies in posts for whatever reason. You can never gain ground on them. Maybe 1:5 times you might silence someone with logic and truth. Maybe. 1:100 times you might get someone to actually think and adjust their perspective.
Never is.
I am at work and it’s slightly better than looking out the window at concrete and miserable cunts in their cars yelling at each other.
Honestly arguing? No
Discussing is great and fun. If you bump into people who are honestly arguing then trolling becomes enjoyable.
Worth what? It’s basically free.
