But I'm Right, Dammit!

[Inverse Skies]

I'll take people on if I have a deep knowledge of the subject and they're clearly wrong... but otherwise I'll stay quiet, because there is no point going at it with someone if you don't have a deep knowledge. Because a lack of knowledge really comes back to bite you at the wrong times.

 

[the_tramp]

I live with a strictly Vegetarian (borderline Vegan), Tai Chi and pretty much anything Chinese enthusiast who openly states that he is Republican (We're from the UK so can't really be Republican), but at the same time states that Democracy is a joke and should be eradicated (go figure...).

He once gave me a huge theoretical 'the world would be a better place if' speech about how the world would be better if all of the world simply took back the Government and basically the highest people in society were CEOs and directors of companies. Everyone worked with the intention of furthering their businesses. The police still existed in order to keep the peace, but they were a separate entity in themselves and if there was an issue then 'the state' would sort it out... the reason why I placed inverted commas there was because I kept asking him what/who are 'the state' and all he could say was 'the state'. From what I can gather it was basically everyone else bands together into a sort of vigilante mob to sort out the problematic issue/people (who refused to see my argument that a lot of people simply wouldn't band together to sort out the issue).

I then proceeded to completely strip his argument apart, the general jist saying that if there were loads of companies with the CEO/Director being the leader then we have now gone back in time to the age of kings with small areas for themselves and in theory they could band together their employees to 'invade' other areas and take their land/company. All he could say was 'but then the state would stop them'. Literally everything I said he said 'the state would stop them' without realising that most people simply wouldn't band together to stop say... Microsoft if their 89,000 employees were charging at you.

His response was 'hmm... well I'm going to have to think about this and I'll get back to you'. This was about 5 months ago. He still maintained that 'the state' would eradicate the problem, without giving a legitimate definition of what or who they were, but still thinking that they would have enough power to stop them.

 

[hippo24]

You understand that the only way to really make anyone believe anything is with violence?
How do you think politicians pass bills, scientists make theories, and the pope gets elected?

Its all done with the help of two fists, and a baseball bat.

 

[-IT-]

I've argued with a friend for 4 years now because he believes pineapples grow in the ground. I mean he believes they literally grow "in the ground" like carrots. His only argument is that he went to the Bahamas and saw a pineapple plantation and since all he saw were the green tops that meant they grew underground.

pff, everyone knows they grow underwater . . .

 

[Taerdin]

I've argued with a friend for 4 years now because he believes pineapples grow in the ground. I mean he believes they literally grow "in the ground" like carrots. His only argument is that he went to the Bahamas and saw a pineapple plantation and since all he saw were the green tops that meant they grew underground.

pff, everyone knows they grow underwater . . .

But wait... pineAPPLE! Apples grow on trees... so maybe PINEapples... grow on... PINE TREES!

Clearly I'm right, all the evidence is there and nothing you can possibly say will convince me otherwise.... YOUR MOVE!

 

[SmugFrog]

Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

I used to feel the same way OP - nowdays, if they're not going to listen, I just go "Oh really? Wow!" roll my eyes and walk away. It's not worth your time, you know? Some people really have some tall tales and you're not going to change their mind about it.

 

[Dirty Apple]

the moon was a deep shade of orange. This, I told him, was called a harvest moon.

I didn't know that.

As far as I understand it, when the moon is low on the horizon, it's viewed through all the particulate in the air. Depending on the density of the dust\smoke etc, the moon tkaes on a darker shade of orange. Now, what I don't know is whether the name came from the time of year in which it regularly happens (ie: fall) or whether it only tends to happen during harvest where increased machinery travel creates more particulate.

See, as a self-aware know-it-all, I can admit when I don't know something. It hurts, but I can.

 

[Hexadecimal16]

I can see why you find it annoying. But some people just can't accept that they may be wrong. You can argue with logic, fact, undisputed truth but nothing will sway their mind. These are the kind of people who only argue back because they can see you in distress.

The only thing your doing by getting worked up about it, is letting them win.

This is true.

I love a good debate, but arguing with a stupid and/or illogical person is just painful. The worst thing in the world is knowing that you're right but the person is so adamant in their stupidity that nothing will change their mind.

At that point it's just best to let it go, though. It's clear that you're not going to win and continuing to argue is just counter-productive.

 

[WhiteRavven]

Know it all huh? You do know in an discussion the other party isnt an opponent?

When you and someone else have a disagreement, over what appears to be minor trivia, why should they take your word as fact with no other evidence to back it up? If you pointed it out in an encyclopedia etc, and they still wouldnt believe you then more fool them. Other wise there is no reason to assume youre right, unless you are some sort of specialist in that field of knowledge.

You don't have to be a specialist to know something is correct. Just like I'm not an English teacher but I know that you use "a" before words that start with consonants and "an" before words that start with vowels.

Actually... on that note it is technically supposed to be "a" before consonant-sounds and "an" before vowel-sounds. (It's usually the same thing but there are tricky words out there that begin with a vowel/consonant but the first sound of it is of the opposite type of letter).


Moving on: topic!

I find it annoying as well, especially when you make a comment that there is nothing that would seem weird about it. If I had seen a harvest moon and said to a comrade "That is called a cookie moon" well, that would seem off, wouldn't it?

Anyway, I just tend to say my bit and if they argue with me (for no reason other then to try to shoot me down and continuously say I'm wrong), then I shrug and shake my head, moving on.

But now I have a phone with internet capability, meaning GOOGLE EVERYWHERE...that I have signal. So I can usually end debates either way it happens to fall. I don't like being wrong but if I am, HEY, I just learned something new today! =3

Editing for obnoxious grammar mistakes.