The Problem with being YOU

[matrix3509]

Everyone has opinions, but if a person doesn't support them, in a debate those opinions can and should be brushed aside. I can respect someone I disagree with but I can't respect someone who spews ignorance and, as sole defense, simply claims they are entitled to that opinion.

Therein lies the problem I think. The big hangup here is that almost everyone believes their own opinion is literal fact and anyone with a different opinion is ignorant. Who's to say where the line is between "ignorance spewing" and "opinion spewing." Many time people will call out supporting facts as being skewed, biased, or outright wrong. It doesn't really matter how many facts you back up your argument with, people will still cling to their opinions no matter what.

I believe that only thing that really changes people's minds is time. My own views on certain things have definitely evolved since I've gotten older, mostly because I got away from my parents, but other factors have been involved also.

 

[theultimateend]

I only debate with people to help expand the beliefs I have.

Not to reinforce them but to better understand them. To see flaws in them I would have otherwise not seen on my own.

I use other people like free beta testers, they play with my idea and find ways to abuse it I would have never thought to.

It is a bit sociopathic but I think in the end it gives the other person a sense of belonging and actual use and it gives me helpful data.

As for the OP: Yeah, let's never debate anything. That'll allow for a lot of progress.
I get what you're saying (it's just the internet, after all) but, really, that's not a rule to live by.

The only time Debate ever helps is when it is in front of a huge amount of people. While I admit the internet has a large following until two people debate an issue (earnestly) in front of a few hundred million people it really isn't helping to me.

Especially since I see the same lame ass retorts for issues like intelligent design or 911 truthers every year. If there was actual progress to be had in the debates (you know the years of debunking for most of these things) they'd already be done.

But I get what you are saying. Funny enough I'm debating with you over the fruitless nature of many debates. I don't think that is irony, but it is something. Silly perhaps?

 

[Sephychu]

I get what you're saying, but there are extents to which people shouldn't go, Flame Wars being a prime example.

Agreed, but that's not what the OP seems to propose.

Well, my attention span for walls of text, even ones prefaced by Xkcd, is small, so I tried to gather a gist. Clearly I did not do so well.

 

[theultimateend]

I get what you're saying, but there are extents to which people shouldn't go, Flame Wars being a prime example.

Agreed, but that's not what the OP seems to propose.

Well, my attention span for walls of text, even ones prefaced by Xkcd, is small, so I tried to gather a gist. Clearly I did not do so well.

I tend to suggest that posters who post huge articles use lots of flashy pictures. Or the occasional breast. These things keep people interested.

 

[Sephychu]

I get what you're saying, but there are extents to which people shouldn't go, Flame Wars being a prime example.

Agreed, but that's not what the OP seems to propose.

Well, my attention span for walls of text, even ones prefaced by Xkcd, is small, so I tried to gather a gist. Clearly I did not do so well.

I tend to suggest that posters who post huge articles use lots of flashy pictures. Or the occasional breast. These things keep people interested.

I don't know, I think a breast might put me off the actual text.

 

[sun.ce39]

the problem is that the world revolves arounds ignorant dicks. we get called ignorant dicks by ignorant dicks because they are pissed about the ignorant dicks that we all put up with in real life and they are pissed about the ignorant dicks that run our ignorant dick of a government becuase they got picked on by more ignorant dicks when they were young ignorant dicks and still picked on by more ignorant dicks today. so basically we are in the ignorant dick singularity.

 

[theultimateend]

I get what you're saying, but there are extents to which people shouldn't go, Flame Wars being a prime example.

Agreed, but that's not what the OP seems to propose.

Well, my attention span for walls of text, even ones prefaced by Xkcd, is small, so I tried to gather a gist. Clearly I did not do so well.

I tend to suggest that posters who post huge articles use lots of flashy pictures. Or the occasional breast. These things keep people interested.

I don't know, I think a breast might put me off the actual text.

Well that's why you have the nipple pointing towards the next important piece of text and have that text italicized or something.

Design elements are important when trying to direct attention.

the problem is that the world revolves arounds ignorant dicks. we get called ignorant dicks by ignorant dicks because they are pissed about the ignorant dicks that we all put up with in real life and they are pissed about the ignorant dicks that run our ignorant dick of a government becuase they got picked on by more ignorant dicks when they were young ignorant dicks and still picked on by more ignorant dicks today. so basically we are in the ignorant dick singularity.

Freud would be proud.

 

[sun.ce39]

the problem is that the world revolves arounds ignorant dicks. we get called ignorant dicks by ignorant dicks because they are pissed about the ignorant dicks that we all put up with in real life and they are pissed about the ignorant dicks that run our ignorant dick of a government becuase they got picked on by more ignorant dicks when they were young ignorant dicks and still picked on by more ignorant dicks today. so basically we are in the ignorant dick singularity.

 

[Abedeus]

I'm quite feminine for a boy
BUT I'M NOT GAY!
just cause i straighten my hair

No, just metro-sexual.

And in today's world, almost nobody sees a difference.

Also, you don't straighten your hair if you are not gay. Or want people to think you are.

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

The way I see it, if I can prove you are wrong, then what we are discussing is not something you are actually able to have an opinion on. If your opinion on the color of the sky is that "it's obviously bright neon green", you are clearly a moron, and there is no possible way to defend your position as valid on the grounds of "well that's my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own".

Opinions are how we personally feel about subjective data, and thus there is no right or wrong to be found, only differences of opinion. This is rarely what internet arguments are about when the opinion card gets played: The people who use that argument are almost always relating it to matters of a factual basis and thus using it incorrectly to save face when someone else demonstrates they were wrong about something.

There is absolutely no point in arguing at length over a genuine difference in opinion, but if it's a matter of facts, I will keep arguing until I either win or determine the other party is simply too stupid/wrong to ever admit as such and thus arguing with them will only make me so angry I rupture blood vessels, in which case I stop (and probably seek to actively ignore everything they say ever from that point on).

 

[Sephychu]

I get what you're saying, but there are extents to which people shouldn't go, Flame Wars being a prime example.

Agreed, but that's not what the OP seems to propose.

Well, my attention span for walls of text, even ones prefaced by Xkcd, is small, so I tried to gather a gist. Clearly I did not do so well.

I tend to suggest that posters who post huge articles use lots of flashy pictures. Or the occasional breast. These things keep people interested.

I don't know, I think a breast might put me off the actual text.

Well that's why you have the nipple pointing towards the next important piece of text and have that text italicized or something.

Design elements are important when trying to direct attention.

Especially the attention of the internet.

 

[Revolutionary]

http://i41.tinypic.com/fvyb2d.jpg
Im correct and ..............shut up.

 

[S.R.S.]

The problem being with me... There aren't enough "me"s.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Everyone has opinions, but if a person doesn't support them, in a debate those opinions can and should be brushed aside. I can respect someone I disagree with but I can't respect someone who spews ignorance and, as sole defense, simply claims they are entitled to that opinion.

Therein lies the problem I think. The big hangup here is that almost everyone believes their own opinion is literal fact and anyone with a different opinion is ignorant. Who's to say where the line is between "ignorance spewing" and "opinion spewing." Many time people will call out supporting facts as being skewed, biased, or outright wrong. It doesn't really matter how many facts you back up your argument with, people will still cling to their opinions no matter what.

I believe that only thing that really changes people's minds is time. My own views on certain things have definitely evolved since I've gotten older, mostly because I got away from my parents, but other factors have been involved also.

Interesting fact: the only group of people who are likely to change their minds because of debates are philosophers. The people who are trained to analyse and understand the logic behind arguments.

 

[MrDarkling]

All I generally wish is that people realise that there are plenty arguements out there that can never be solved, even the ones that can can't due to ignorance.
Most importantly some tools don't realise they could be doing better things than whining about shit they won't even get anything out of except a large headache.
Also like to note that this rant wasn't designated at the Escapist community; its why i'm here and always will be because people here know how to keep calm and actually get somewhere in debates...thats bloody rare to find on the internet for me personally.
Finally exaggeration on RANT.
I like to get things off my chest sometimes have a good type and what not.
Apologies for any lack of paragraphs etc...
Typing on the ps3 at the moment.