Nitpicking: Forum Debate Etiquette

[Fappy]

So yeah, anyone else have any forum posting pet-peeves like this?

The breaking up a post thing I don't mind if it's done sensibly, but if it's a long debate I tend to put them all back together every few posts so as to try not to lose track.

The thing I *really* don't like is when someone only quotes part of your argument in order to change the implication or meaning of it (Snipping down to the relevant bit I have no problem with), and then responds to that changed argument rather than the one you made.
Anything else is pretty much fair game as far as I'm concerned!

P.S. What about adding "Bad habits that you know you have" to the OP?


I can go wild then. I've already started my list:

1, Making annoying suggestions to change the OP
2, ....

If I wasn't a lazy fuck I would update the OP with some of this stuff. Keep them coming and I may feel inclined to do so

Also, I am waiting for a pro troll to come in here, quote some people and display everything we are complaining about. XP

 

[Suicidejim]

Spoiler

Spoiler: Snip number one

Excessive requests for sources, for one. Yes, if somebody posts a random statistic or bluntly says "x happens more often than y" you'll probably want a source, but unless you're dealing with cold, hard facts, it's hardly necessary, not to mention the fact that there are so many poorly constructed or biased statistics and studies out there that you can probably find at least four sources to support the fact that 1+1=27.

No, it is worth asking to point out to people that they're probably full of bullshit. If they can't provide a good reason to believe their claim then they probably shouldn't be vomiting it out like truth.

As for the stuff about statistics, yeah, and if they're actually poorly constructed you point it out. What, are we supposed to say "Oh there's bad statistics... therefore you can never trust statistics!"? It sure doesn't mean that there should be a lower burden of proof.

Well, alright, I'll be honest, my opinions of when sources should or should not be demanded is vague, since it's kind of a hazy subject for me. True, you don't want people making stuff up every other line, but at the same time an opinion on a forum probably shouldn't be treated like an academic paper.

I don't really think it's even the standards of an academic paper. It's just that sometimes people will throw around their personal experiences and expect those to be taken as gospel truth. If I'm disagreeing then obviously I don't feel my personal experiences point to the same conclusion or are insufficient. And in such a stalemate they should provide something better than their personal experience. What else is there to do when people disagree on that matter?

Spoiler

Spoiler

Also, a lack of courtesy and open-mindedness. You don't like the fact that people are frequently pig-headed and stubborn, refusing to acknowledge legitimate points you present, blindly clinging to their side just as much out of pride as out of reason? You wish they'd just shut up and acknowledge that they just might be wrong? Then you need to do the same. Even if you aren't willing to compromise your position, at least try to understand the motivations behind the opposing arguments instead of just labelling them as 'stupid' or 'wrong.'

You can know they're stupid and wrong while understanding them. They're not mutually exclusive.

Hence my 'just.' If you take the time to understand what they are trying to say, and still disagree, that's fine, you did make the effort. But I find that arguments tend to come to a complete stalemate when both sides are convinced that the other only thinks what they think because they are stupid, rather than simply having different reasoning or values behind said decision.

Well sometimes they just are being stupid. Not all reasoning is equal. Different values, not much can be done about those though.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Finally, I wish people would understand how you get people to change positions on an issue. This is related to the previous point, but I feel it is something that needs to be stressed. You acknowledge their points, explain your own and your reasoning behind them, and point out (politely) the flaws in their own reasoning. You need to be willing to compromise and accept small victories, even if it means ceding some of your own ground. You have to recognize that people will only accept ideas if they feel they have come to accept them of their own free will.

You do not scream and rant and bash them over the head with your counterpoints and arguments until they throw themselves before you, admit they are wrong, and beg for your benevolent forgiveness, because people do not work like that.

Personally I don't value convincing them enough to treat them nicer than they deserve

Then, if I might ask, why do you debate? To prove the superiority of your argument? That seems a somewhat shallow victory. Personally, I debate for two reasons: To learn, and to bring people to understand, and possibly even agree with, my own point of view. Being offensive or rude accomplishes neither of these things (heck, if anything, I may end up having Inoculation Theory bite me in the backside and end up strengthening the views I was opposing).

I care somewhat, just not enough to give bad arguments more respect than they deserve. Also I don't think certain things should go unopposed, even if I don't convince someone. Like racism and sexism.

What witchcraft is this? You click on spoilers . . . and there are spoilers within them? [insert Inception or Xzibit meme reference here if you so choose]

Well, I'm gonna tackle these all at once. I agree with you in part on the sources issue, but I think that A) logic and reasoning can still be sufficient in most debates, as long as you have sound reasons behind your claims and B) while sources are indeed necessary, I feel they can be overused. I don't want source requests to be removed completely, maybe just become less frequent.

For the second point, I think we both approach the issue from opposite sides, but with the same general result. Your mindset, at least from what I can gather, seems to be one of "Your opinion must earn my respect with sound logic, reasoning statistics, data etc." while my own is more along the lines of "I will give your opinion my respect, but unless you can substantiate it with logic, reason, stats, data etc., you will lose that same respect rather quickly." Either way, if the reasoning doesn't hold up, neither of us will accept the argument.

And finally, I do agree that some things need to be stood up against, although I usually don't bother standing up against a racist or sexist argument on the internet because a few dozen to hundred people have probably just done it for me (although obviously I would if nobody else did). Also, that's what my Fox Nation profile is for

I'm gonna go ahead and stop replying to these now, because I think we're both the chatty kind and might end up clogging up the thread (oh, yeah, there's another thing that bugs me: when two to three guys manage to clog up a thread between them. Double my annoyance if they neglect to use spoiler tags to cut down the post sizes). If you have more objections or points to raise, I'd be happy to PM, but I try to limit myself to a handful of posts per thread. Ciao

 

[Vault101]

"sorry..but x is shit"

"sorry"?...what are you "sorry about? are you convinced that you've just ruined my day with your mind blowing argument? is that why youre apologising?

somtimes I have to stop myself from doing it though

 

[Lionsfan]

When people change your text in your quote and say "There, fixed it for you".

Seriously...I fucking love [sic] that and I have no clue why it pleases [sic] me so much.

There , fixed that for you .

Do you wanna be my friend?

OT : yeah i agree with OP , i hate when people do that . Another thing i hate is when you make a generalization and some says , well i'm not like that so it's not true . No shit sherlock , do you know what "in general" means? I mean really , people thing they are so damn special and everyone is like them .

Damn it, I knew I was setting myself up for that but I had to post it anyway...

Everybody gets to do the joke! You all get a pass for not being the first person to do it but the second person will get my cookies...(which is basically just me cooking in the corner and I hope that it makes you feel good).

There, fixed that for ya brah!

[sub]Just kidding, please don't hurt me[/sub]

So yeah, anyone else have any forum posting pet-peeves like this?

The breaking up a post thing I don't mind if it's done sensibly, but if it's a long debate I tend to put them all back together every few posts so as to try not to lose track.

The thing I *really* don't like is when someone only quotes part of your argument in order to change the implication or meaning of it (Snipping down to the relevant bit I have no problem with), and then responds to that changed argument rather than the one you made.
Anything else is pretty much fair game as far as I'm concerned!

P.S. What about adding "Bad habits that you know you have" to the OP?


I can go wild then. I've already started my list:

1, Making annoying suggestions to change the OP
2, ....

If I wasn't a lazy fuck I would update the OP with some of this stuff. Keep them coming and I may feel inclined to do so

Also, I am waiting for a pro troll to come in here, quote some people and display everything we are complaining about. XP

I'm just gonna bookmark this thread, and then hit you all with it next time you post. All according my nefarious plan....

 

[artanis_neravar]

Are there any behaviors that really piss you off or catch you flatfooted when you encounter them in a forum-based debate? Obviously most of us would agree that shallow points coupled by poor grammar/spelling is always annoying, but I want to address problems that stem from conscious decisions in the way people post.

While it can be useful at times I find that I really, really hate when people quote me and pick my post apart piece by piece by splitting up the quote. I understand some may like having the ability to clearly argue different points separate from the larger argument but in many cases one of the following will happen:

1. Some of the counterpoints are brief quips that are either purely dismissive or borderline trolling in nature
2. It can break the argument up too much so that certain points are missed entirely and you are no longer arguing about the same thing
3. When done in excess it can be quite jarring on the senses and can make counter arguments more difficult to construct due to the format butchering of your argument

So yeah, anyone else have any forum posting pet-peeves like this?

If someone takes this OP apart I will be very cross

When someone makes an obviously controversial point on the first page of a topic, and then 9 pages later makes a post saying "I already retracted my comment in an earlier post" then instead of just updating their first post to reflect this, they angrily demand that people stop quoting them and to go back and look at their "I already retracted my comment in an earlier post" post

 

[Rawne1980]

People that take everything far too seriously.

I very rarely make a serious post so most of them are poking fun at something and some muppet quotes me with a serious retort to a comment I made that was obvious to the blind was done in jest.

 

[JimB]

In forum debates, I find I have to say, "I did not say that," a whole lot because people think the things I say mean something other than what they say. I'm annoyed enough by it to be unfair and assume it's because they're projecting their own prejudices onto my voice instead of actually listening to it.

 

[FearTheSkorpion]

When people change your text in your quote and say "There, fixed it for you".

Seriously...I fucking hate that and I have no clue why it bothers me so much.

I completely agree. I think it's because it indicates a complete lack of respect for what you were trying to get across.

My own biggest peeve is the people who are generally condescending throughout the debate. I'm not sure what causes them to behave this way, but I seriously doubt they can talk to people like that in real life and not get punched in the face.

Close second are the people who believe that cursing a lot will make you sound smarter, more mature, cover up the fact they haven't a clue what they're talking about, etc. Personally, I never curse, but that's my own decision and I'm fine with people that don't agree with that. However, these people are abusing the language, and it really peeves me, especially when they use their cursing to compensate for how badly they're losing the argument.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Also, that's what my Fox Nation profile is for

OOOH OOOOH OOOH!
When people think they are being clever and punny by using Faux News as a pun on Fox News, Faux is not pronounced fox, nor does it have a similar meaning to fox

Not saying you do this the line I quoted just made me think of it.

When people start using thinly veiled insults, or pick at a single spelling or grammar mistake as a reason to disregard the entire argument.

 

[FearTheSkorpion]

a few things, a few.

-How people are very literal, you have to put "IMO" at the end of everything otherwise they jump on you for saying "X is everything ever, of all time".

- People who demand sources before they even consider your argument. I'm sorry, but i just don't find research fun. I get enough of that being a student

You have a problem with people asking you to give supporting evidence to a given argument?

Actually, yes, some of us do. More often than not, my arguments consist of plain common sense, and I can't really post a wikipedia link to "common sense" without coming off as bad or worse than the person I am debating.

Also, I would ask that you not reply to someone else's post with a dismissive, condescending rhetorical question. That happens to be something I, and many others, have a problem with.

Edit: I quoted your post before you added your second statement, which I completely agree with. However, my point still stands.

 

[artanis_neravar]

a few things, a few.

-How people are very literal, you have to put "IMO" at the end of everything otherwise they jump on you for saying "X is everything ever, of all time".

- People who demand sources before they even consider your argument. I'm sorry, but i just don't find research fun. I get enough of that being a student

You have a problem with people asking you to give supporting evidence to a given argument?

Actually, yes, some of us do. More often than not, my arguments consist of plain common sense, and I can't really post a wikipedia link to "common sense" without coming off as bad or worse than the person I am debating.

Also, I would ask that you not reply to someone else's post with a dismissive, condescending rhetorical question. That happens to be something I, and many others, have a problem with.

Edit: I quoted your post before you added your second statement, which I completely agree with. However, my point still stands.

It was actually a serious question that, lo and behold, obtained a serious answer. So I would ask you not to look for hostility where it isn't to be found.

While i agree with you about the hostility thing, you could also try to not write a post in a manner that will be taken as hostile, using the phrase "lo and behold" for example, may come across as hostile and condescending.

 

[daveman247]

You have a problem with people asking you to give supporting evidence to a given argument?

My lil' pet peeve would have to be people willing to loudly proclaim something several times over but fail to ever give supporting evidence.

You got a source for that?

 

[FearTheSkorpion]

a few things, a few.

-How people are very literal, you have to put "IMO" at the end of everything otherwise they jump on you for saying "X is everything ever, of all time".

- People who demand sources before they even consider your argument. I'm sorry, but i just don't find research fun. I get enough of that being a student

You have a problem with people asking you to give supporting evidence to a given argument?

Actually, yes, some of us do. More often than not, my arguments consist of plain common sense, and I can't really post a wikipedia link to "common sense" without coming off as bad or worse than the person I am debating.

Also, I would ask that you not reply to someone else's post with a dismissive, condescending rhetorical question. That happens to be something I, and many others, have a problem with.

Edit: I quoted your post before you added your second statement, which I completely agree with. However, my point still stands.

It was actually a serious question that, lo and behold, obtained a serious answer. So I would ask you not to look for hostility where it isn't to be found.

While i agree with you about the hostility thing, you could also try to not write a post in a manner that will be taken as hostile, using the phrase "lo and behold" for example, may come across as hostile and condescending.

It's honestly just a tendency to add more personal voice to my writing than I probably should. So I suppose I should probably tone it down just a tad for internet related nonsense.

I apologize for taking your statement as hostile, but I think this means you understand why I dislike posts like that. They have a tendency to spark anger, which is returned, and the "debate" quickly degenerates into a shouting match. I also post with "voice" sometimes, but I find it usually provokes angry responses, so I try to avoid that except with friends.

 

[daveman247]

People that take everything far too seriously.

I very rarely make a serious post so most of them are poking fun at something and some muppet quotes me with a serious retort to a comment I made that was obvious to the blind was done in jest.

As long as its not sarcasm, thats a little hard to read in text

Yes i have fell into that trap sometimes....

 

[-Samurai-]

I just hate that everyone has to argue about everything. Some people are just incapable of letting a differing opinion go unanswered.

 

[daveman247]

I do, actually!

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.362443-Atheism-Shouldnt-Exist?page=1

Short story: Poster believes Atheism to be something that it isn't. I give definitions and reasons why he/she is incorrect. and he/she ignores the evidence given in favor of contining to trumpet it's own post.

Damn it! Should've known!

I suppose its fine when you are making wild statements/ talking facts. But an opinion/ common sense should not require them.

Then again, one persons common sense is anothers revelation...

 

[Zen Toombs]

-snip-

While it can be useful at times I find that I really, really hate when people quote me and pick my post apart piece by piece by splitting up the quote. -snip-

1. Some of the counterpoints are brief quips that are either purely dismissive or borderline trolling in nature
2. It can break the argument up too much so that certain points are missed entirely and you are no longer arguing about the same thing
3. When done in excess it can be quite jarring on the senses and can make counter arguments more difficult to construct due to the format butchering of your argument

So yeah, anyone else have any forum posting pet-peeves like this?

If someone takes this OP apart I will be very cross

I agree with this one, although splitting up posts doesn't bother me quite as much.

What really breaks my Zen is when someone says that I'm saying the opposite of what I actually stated. As far as I can tell, a person would only do this because they did not fully read the post they are quoting (which seems silly) or because they're trolling. Example for illustration:

True Communism isn't all that terrible for X, Y and Z. Also, the USSR and "Communist China" aren't actually Communist for A, B and C reasons.
However, I still think that Communism wouldn't really work well.

You want us to be just like China! Police states for everyone!

......

 

[FearTheSkorpion]

a few things, a few.

-How people are very literal, you have to put "IMO" at the end of everything otherwise they jump on you for saying "X is everything ever, of all time".

- People who demand sources before they even consider your argument. I'm sorry, but i just don't find research fun. I get enough of that being a student

You have a problem with people asking you to give supporting evidence to a given argument?

Actually, yes, some of us do. More often than not, my arguments consist of plain common sense, and I can't really post a wikipedia link to "common sense" without coming off as bad or worse than the person I am debating.

Also, I would ask that you not reply to someone else's post with a dismissive, condescending rhetorical question. That happens to be something I, and many others, have a problem with.

Edit: I quoted your post before you added your second statement, which I completely agree with. However, my point still stands.

It was actually a serious question that, lo and behold, obtained a serious answer. So I would ask you not to look for hostility where it isn't to be found.

While i agree with you about the hostility thing, you could also try to not write a post in a manner that will be taken as hostile, using the phrase "lo and behold" for example, may come across as hostile and condescending.

It's honestly just a tendency to add more personal voice to my writing than I probably should. So I suppose I should probably tone it down just a tad for internet related nonsense.

I apologize for taking your statement as hostile, but I think this means you understand why I dislike posts like that. They have a tendency to spark anger, which is returned, and the "debate" quickly degenerates into a shouting match. I also post with "voice" sometimes, but I find it usually provokes angry responses, so I try to avoid that except with friends.

And as they grew to understand one another, there was peace throughout the land, and all was right with the world!

Happy faces!

This is why I created an account on the Escapist. I could count on one hand how many other sites on the internet could have ended a comment discussion this peacefully, and I'd only need two of the fingers.

 

[Right Hook]

Are there any behaviors that really piss you off or catch you flatfooted when you encounter them in a forum-based debate?

I'm sure you are used to being caught flatfooted in debates, you are after all very poor at them.

Obviously most of us would agree that shallow points coupled by poor grammar/spelling is always annoying, but I want to address problems that stem from conscious decisions in the way people post.

It's funny how you talk about the conscious decisions people make in the way they post, maybe you should focus on your many unconscious mistakes first.

While it can be useful at times I find that I really, really hate when people quote me and pick my post apart piece by piece by splitting up the quote. I understand some may like having the ability to clearly argue different points separate from the larger argument but in many cases one of the following will happen:

I'm not surprised you dislike this, you hate the idea that I can so deftly devastate every part of your argument with my genius intellect in one post.

1. Some of the counterpoints are brief quips that are either purely dismissive or borderline trolling in nature

While I'm sure someone like you would see them that way.

2. It can break the argument up too much so that certain points are missed entirely and you are no longer arguing about the same thing

No, clearly we are arguing the fact that you hate to debate because you always lose. I'm sorry that I'm clearly superior.

3. When done in excess it can be quite jarring on the senses and can make counter arguments more difficult to construct due to the format butchering of your argument

Haha, jarring? It's not jarring, it is presented clear as day, sorry you are too slow to keep up.

So yeah, anyone else have any forum posting pet-peeves like this?

If someone takes this OP apart I will be very cross

I'm completely joking btw. Sorry for breaking it up but you basically forced me too

I personally don't mind too much when someone breaks down a few points of my argument but I agree that nitpicking the whole thing is friggin ridiculous. Really though as long as the debate is friendly and civil it doesn't bother me. Unfortunately I think we all know that a lot of times it's just the other guy trying to prove how dazzlingly smart he is and how much of a moron we obviously are. I seriously just tell the other guy I'm done debating with him if he starts being a dick because you'll never win an argument with a dick, he's always right, NO MATTER WHAT.

 

[DeltaEdge]

When people attack your clearly stated IMO posts. When I say this, I mean not for things that are factual, but for heavily opinionated things i.e., sample post: "I hate plums because they are gross" sample response post: "You are quite the idiot aren't you. Plums have the best consistency of any fruit in the fruitimal kingdom and if you like any other fruits, then you are a hypocrite. A Christian hypocrite! An American Christian Cowbow Hypocrite!" As long as your opinion isn't based around something factual like a racial equality and claiming that one race is superior, then your personal opinion isn't really up for debate.

When people change your text in your quote and say "There, fixed it for you".

Seriously...I fucking hate that and I have no clue why it bothers me so much.

I completely agree. I think it's because it indicates a complete lack of respect for what you were trying to get across.

My own biggest peeve is the people who are generally condescending throughout the debate. I'm not sure what causes them to behave this way, but I seriously doubt they can talk to people like that in real life and not get punched in the face.

Close second are the people who believe that cursing a lot will make you sound smarter, more mature, cover up the fact they haven't a clue what they're talking about, etc. Personally, I never curse, but that's my own decision and I'm fine with people that don't agree with that. However, these people are abusing the language, and it really peeves me, especially when they use their cursing to compensate for how badly they're losing the argument.

I actually go to a website called vizzed.com and on their forums, they don't approve of cursing. Pretty nice to see people actually putting thought into making their posts curse free and practicing some restraint with their language.