- Joined
- Apr 20, 2005
- Messages
- 30,381
- Reaction score
- 14,569
- Political Leaning
- Conservative
I have been a participant in political discussion boards for decades. Remember the election of 2000 and the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court's intervention? How quaint those times seem. Remember when the sexual habits of a President seemed significant? Good times. Over the years, and perhaps it was the particular forums I participated in, I have watched as the "debating habits" of participants have degraded. Yes, "burns" and "put-downs" have always been a theme in debates, but they used to be done with far greater panache and erudition. The sharpest knives go in without being felt immediately. Facts used to matter. Wow, that takes me back! I actually remember when one would use logic to build an argument, provide citations to relevant material and conduct disagreements with respect and a presumption of sincerity. I used to do that too!
Now, it seems, I am too often drawn into "debates" that consist entirely of well-worn and canned position statements that are presented with no intent of persuasion, without consideration or even understanding; When a well-developed rationale is responded to with a "dismissed" or less-polite versions of "Jane, you ignorant slut!"; "Labels" are de rigueur in lieu of specifics or actual responses, with the expectation that the recipient, not being one of "us", is assumed to be one of "them" and not deserving of consideration. Worse, I am prompted to respond in kind!
My question is: am I alone in this feeling? Is my desire for debate with substance and respect just a quaint notion from a bygone era? Is self-deprecation or even self-consciousness passe? Is nuance dead? Is it possible, in this day and age, to carry on a reasoned debate with an honest and respectful opponent, or is this just wishful thinking?
Sturgeon's Law applies to DP too.
[ Present company excluded of course. ]
If providing facts and logic was more effective, the world would be a much different place.
Few people appreciate actual reasoning and debate.
I spent years researching and meticulously linking to sources for my posts.
But idiots are idiots and are unmotivated by facts.
Post in whatever style you enjoy posting.
But do what you do for you.
Us idiots out here are never gonna get in line or behave.
I enjoy the challenge of trying to become an "idiot-whisperer".
i.e. "How can I say this so that even an idiot will be unable to argue with it?"
If well-reasoned factual posting is something you enjoy, please do it.
Most people are idiots and are unable or unwilling to appreciate it.
Accept that you're unable to change that.
Your pleasure in creating good posts with solid debating must come from those acts themselves,
instead of from the reactions of us morons out here in the world.
Humans are not rational creatures by choice.