Arguing on the Internet

[The Clown]

I enjoy it myself and I know it is a largely shared hobby of people on the internet.
But what has come to my attention and has been bugging me is that a lot of the people doing it aren't doing it to unravel interesting topics and find answers but either just to gain notoriety and seem intelligent or to do it for the sake of winning for online dominance.

The way we argue on the internet has gone astray, for every intelligent and good-willed comment there is someone who tries to pick holes in it unduly; accusing them of racism, bigotry, sexism or a mixture just because they want to seem like the top intellectual dog, they aren't helping and usually just start flame wars.

Now, I can over-analyse until the cows come home and it seems that we can make or pick flaws in any statement, or counter-statement. But what I want to know from you it why you truly argue on the internet and whether you think you fall prey to any of the wrong reasons for doing it and how you think the people of the escapist should be urged towards forming their arguments.

This is most likely all rambling but I hope you get the idea

 

[Laser Priest]

Ha! People on the internet doing things for good! What a wonderful idea.

Sorry, but the internet is chaotic evil. People here are going to fight for the sake of fighting and then say how much better they are than everyone else.

 

[Matt-Sama]

@Matt-Sama: Helpful.

Haha, I was just seeing if that would start an arguement.

 

[templargunman]

Your argument is wrong and I don't need to explain myself, because of anonymity!

Edit: 2 people have gotten in trouble on this post already: I am joking, and also explaining my opinion as to why it happens, anonymity.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Well, really, sometimes people are being racist, sexist, bigoted, etc. while being wrong. It's sometimes helpful to point those things out; in someone who's trying to be cogent, it can force them to examine how they got to a conclusion and make them aware of possible unrealistic stereotypes influence their thinking, while in someone who's just an idiot, it can illumine the fact that arguing with them is worthless.

But you're right, it does rely on the accuser having good intentions, which is far from a given in a lot of arguments.

 

[The Clown]

Well, really, sometimes people are being racist, sexist, bigoted, etc. while being wrong. It's sometimes helpful to point those things out; in someone who's trying to be cogent, it can force them to examine how they got to a conclusion and make them aware of possible unrealistic stereotypes influence their thinking, while in someone who's just an idiot, it can illumine the fact that arguing with them is worthless.

But you're right, it does rely on the accuser having good intentions, which is far from a given in a lot of arguments.

Yes, it does force the proposer to self-analyse, but the accuser is usually doing it because they either want to damage the proposer's argument at the base, stabbing at him not at the actual logic for the sake of wanting to feel big and clever.

Your argument is wrong and I don't need to explain myself, because of anonymity!

Edit: 2 people have gotten in trouble on this post already: I am joking, and also explaining my opinion as to why it happens, anonymity.

And yes, anonymity does play a large role in why the people of the internet act the way they do, it really shows an ugly glimpse of human nature.

Also, sorry to the moderators for being snarky to Matt-Sama.

 

[McMullen]

I get into arguments on the internet for a variety of reasons. Usually it's because someone Did Not Do the Research or is using something approaching Insane Troll Logic. The phrase "x is just a theory", or "The scientists are trying to kill us all!" creates an impulse to edify the person saying it that I find nearly impossible to ignore, whether or not I argue the point effectively. I imagine that at least 99% of my time doing this is wasted, but I feel very strongly that a significant part of the suckage in the world is due to these misconceptions, and if there's a chance I can dispel even a single instance of them, then it is worth spending an hour or two of my day attempting to do so.

 

[6_Qubed]

I will place this elegant and finely-crafted link here for the perusal of all, and then quietly slip away.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GIFT

 

[Hero in a half shell]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GIFT

Hmm, a link you say? maybe I'll check it ou... NO YOU FOOL! I had plans for today. Oh what might have been.

On topic, the ability to say something and not be held at all accountable means it's all too easy to slag someone off, add to that the loss of the ability to detect sarcasm or satire, and simple misunderstandings often just end in mud slinging contests. Also there are a lot of people who just get bored and decide it would be fun to unduly rip into someone with accusations and and laugh at their responses.

Personally I try to avoid all loaded words and never comment on a person, only their viewpoints, and I try to always give evidence and facts to back up any points I make. It's interesting how many times I have found out that something I was going to say was completely or partially incorrect after a 10 second google search.

 

[Strain42]

I won't lie. Every now and then I take part in the occasional debate. If I think someone is being stupid or refusing to acknowledge any point other than their own I have enough self-control to just drop it and walk away.

That's the beauty of arguing on the internet. If I don't want to reply, I don't have to.

 

[DEAD34345]

I personally argue for the sake of arguing, sometimes even playing devil's advocate against a viewpoint I actually agree with. I always do so respectfully, with evidence and counter-points rather than insults, so I'm not a troll (i think). I just happen to like having arguments, even ones in which I lose. (Except I've never lost, of course, because I'm far too brilliant for that. SHUTUP!)

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I don't because of the reason you stated: no one is willing to back down, and then the insulting begins. It simply turns into who can hiss the most venom until one of them realizes there's no point and stops.

That's why I haven't opened Religion & Politics forum in months, because that place was nothing but a place to unsuccessfully argue to each other, about topics that somehow branch off away from the main subject of the thread.

Now, whenever someone argues with me, I just say 'fuck it' and leave.

 

[manaman]

Also, sorry to the moderators for being snarky to Matt-Sama.

They send you a little thingy about why you got in trouble, I figured it was just for low content

I will place this elegant and finely-crafted link here for the perusal of all, and then quietly slip away.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GIFT

Yet I am the total opposite. I have the graces of a bull, and will force my way though things the same. I am in short an asshole in person. However when I can read and self edit effectively while posting online, I find myself to be a much more agreeable person.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Nah, something just peaks my interest and I respond. If it makes me looks smarter that's awesome and all, but that isn't the primary point of leaving my comment, the point is I can leave that comment and desire to.

 

[intheweeds]

There are unfortunately always those who sift through threads seemingly looking to start arguments or pick out peoples obvious typos just to feel smart for noticing something everyone who is typing fast does. It's easy on the internet though to have a comment be misunderstood also.

I think for me it really comes down to the difference between 'arguing' and 'debating'. I enjoy a good debate. I don't like to argue. Arguing is pointless. The minute I feel like a debate is turning into an argument is the point at which i politely excuse myself from the 'conversation'.

 

[suicide samurai]

I like reading posts for their multiple angles, but have pretty much given up on attempting to join conversation due to the anonymity/ego factor. Sadly, a lot of the same BS happens in chat-groups I'm part of with people I actually do know.

The internet, for better or worse, has chenged our social dynamic.

 

[kortin]

I believe DEBATES should be had on the internet. Arguments though, they're just a waste of time and space. Having a friendly debate could be rewarding to all participants, whereas arguments just serve to make people mad.

 

[jthm]

Because some of us like knowing that somewhere, somehow, we've made someone else angry. We're called trolls and arguing on the internet was never as enlightened as the TC describes it.

 

[Zantos]

Arguments on the internet annoy me. I love a good lively debate, the difference is I try apply the same rules I'd use to argue in real life on the internet. Unfortunately with the combination of this trend of grammar naziing (that's a weird word to look at) and the GIDT something I'd normally enjoy is just something that frustrates me.

 

[Richardplex]

I argue to gain knowledge not only of the other person's point of view, but also for my own argument. As long as insults, caps lock, swearing and Ad Hominem don't get involved, arguments on the internet can be pretty satisfying as an intellectual output. As long as we don't start getting pretentious. /guilty of this.

Edit: oh, I'm not some nice guy who ain't an arsehole on the internet. It's more enjoyable to make someone realise they're stupid logically than to tell them.