Arguing on DU for fun - an epiphany

[daveskilt]

Arguing with anyone on DU is like wading in treacle while beating yourself in the head with a plank of wood. It only gets stickier and hurts your head - just like any other type of masturbation.


countdown to being deleted in 5.4.3.2.1

[Mind_your_head]

1. Don't worry about being deleted.....you haven't said anything untrue/defamatory to another

There are a lot of good (and not so good) emotions/thoughts/feelings/ideas here on DU....the arguing/debating "sharpens the sword" for us all...even though the sharpening might not feel so pleasant at the time ;-)

[daveskilt]

2. I think it is the higher number of posters these days

you could post one word and find 10 people calling you a troll/misogynist/defeatist/racist who is deluded/paid by (insert candidate here)/uninformed/unsympathetic to the plight of (insert posters cause of choice here) - within minutes.

To paraphrase the very wise Michael Palin - an argument is a series of connected rational statements intended to establish a proposition. To quote about 90% of the responses on DU they may as well echo John Cleese's response "no it isn't".


My epiphany comes after watching some poor schlub post something that could have been taken several ways - no matter how he attmepted to clarify his point he was eviscerated - then he went and did the same thing to another well intentioned but clumsy poster in the same thread!

less argument - more dialogue

[DCKit]

5. Yeah, as if I need YOU to defend my posts.

Series.

My personal joy is, as you've stated, the people who CHOOSE to read something the way the want to see it, respond harshly, then can't be swayed with any argument to accept a post or POV in the way it was intended.

Skinner said it well when he advised against feeding the bears - They'll just bite off your hand then chew your arm - as long as you let them. So, don't.

[man4allcats]

3. Go fuck yourself!

:sarcasm:

Just kidding, of course. I like your post. :hi: :hi: :hi:

[Breeze54]

4. "We're all teachers"

:eyes:

:P

[sampsonblk]

6. MegaDittoes - You are right on the money

Its much easier to slap yourself in the face, thereby cutting out the middle man. But where's the fun in that?

[SteinbachMB]

7. I've only just

begun to fight. I don't mind arguing; I can't help it.

[dweller]

8. you're obviously doing something wrong ...

"and hurts your head - just like any other type of masturbation"


}(

dp

[Fumesucker]

9. The best way to clarify your own thinking on an issue

Is to try to explain it to others.

If your facts or logic are not right, somebody online will let you know about it.

Many years posting on usenet taught me that.