You know what I really hate? Debating things with people online.
Everyone who talks/argues online falls into one of 3 categories: the smart (like moi), the people that assume they’re smart, and the people who say the most sensational thing they can think of to get attention. Needless to say, the last category is the most immature and the second category is the most pathetic.
Now, there have been some debates I’ve had online and in forums that I’ve really enjoyed because they made me think, changed my mind, or really made me work to illustrate my point. But, by and large, the people I debate with usually fall into the latter two categories. The immature people are easy to ignore. You make a good point and then they start throwing around insults. This makes it very easy to simply cut off the conversation. My biggest problems are the people from the second category.
Now, I don’t know everything and I try not to get personally invested in a debate. I enjoy playing the Devil’s Advocate and my main goal is not to win but simply to make people think. If they retain their beliefs, it’s fine. If they learn something, so much the better.
I’ve found, though, that formatting my arguments is usually a waste of time. The way I understand debate is to take the competitor’s argument and counter it with points contrary to theirs and support your stance with evidence. Seems like a logical way to argue, really. Everything is supported. But when I’m in the forums, I find people that don’t support their claims with facts and don’t even bother with anything more than opinion. And, when cornered by logic, begin a personal attack on whoever is making the sense.
*sigh*
When will I learn that there’s a difference between Devil’s Advocate and Glutton for Punishment?
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