Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Captain Hat]

Now then, this isn't about the Bay12 Forums, I'm speaking more of other places and things not of the Internet.

Sometimes it seems like the idea of maintaining control and reason in discussions can be one of the most futile exercises in communication. It seems as though it would be much nicer to grab an icepick and fall under the red mist for a while. But that's not something you can do, you've got to be able to keep control or you'll look like an idiot.

But it's absolutely insane trying to convince a person with an opposing opinion of anything. It doesn't matter what the subject is: Religion, War, Politics, Physics, OS's, News Channels, right down to even blasted cola and gaming platforms. It's the perfect way to turn any calm person into a raging psycho. Hell, it's probably even a cause of trolling, when you're one voice against a thousand, you can at least take pleasure in your chaos. Debate seems pointless. You're not going to convince people in one swoop, nor are your answers going to phase them any. So how do you claim intellectual checkmate? Sheer mental attrition. You grind against each other's gears until one snaps.

I dunno, I guess I'm just blowing off steam, but what do you guys think?

[Psyco Jelly]

In high school? It's like arguing with a brick wall.

With the educated minority? Debate is fun and practical.

I took a class on professional argumentation, and it only works on people who have taken a class on professional argumentation. Really only in the scientific and philosophical communities does argument actually benefit anyone. Religion? Doubtful. Major religions teach that they are correct, and reflexive logic is annoying and pointless. The newer religions are much nicer and the people in them seem smarter.

[Mr Tk]

Working in retail. Oh god, the horrible horrible arguments I had with people who were so, so wrong, and so, so stupid. Now I'm not saying that if you work in retail that every customer is stupid, nor is every salesperson out to scam you for every buck.

BUT... UGGHGH. I worked in the service department of a computer store. We sold everything from computers, consoles, cellphones, software, cordless phones, printers, mp3 players.

Here is an example the arguments I got into:

Cust: My cellphone is broken. Can I get it repaired under warranty?
Me: Oh yes, what's wrong?
Customers Mum (Cos they always come with their mum): The screen isn't working. He took out of his pocket and it was like this.
Me: (looks at the cracked and obliviously impacted screen.) Sorry but this is most likely not covered under warranty. It looks like impact damage. We can send it away but they'll charge an inspection fee if they find it's non warranty.
Customers Mum: How could it happen?
Me: If it was in his pocket and it hit something or had pressure put on it.
Customers Mum: (They get angry at this point.) My son takes care of all his stuff. He's very careful, he would never damage it in any way. Why should I have to pay, its not our fault.

At this point I wish I could say "Ma'am your son's a liar and your fucking retarded."

I would get so, very, VERY tired.

[Muz]

Lol, sales is another field which has a high rate of insanity. Academia comes in quite close.

[sonerohi]

My brother did sales work at Best Buy. A guy came in and had tried to build his own rig, and decided to ditch any sort of cooling system for "MOAR XTREME POWAH" and then was baffled when it overheated and all. After my brother explained that machines generate heat which normal convection cannot dissipate, the guy tried to sell the rig to my brother. Moral of the story: People are pants-on-head retarded, constantly.

[Idiom]

Sometimes it seems like the idea of maintaining control and reason in discussions can be one of the most futile exercises in communication.

Wrong. Absolutely wrong in such a sickeningly retarded way I'll try to explain it to you as if you ride the short bus and then get lost somewhere in the details while ignoring whatever you say and breaking down into a simplified slurry of anti-logic I'll then forget why I was doing it in the first place and then that's all buried in time and the only thing in the ashes is wasted effort.

So yes. But you're still wrong.

[Muz]

Sometimes it seems like the idea of maintaining control and reason in discussions can be one of the most futile exercises in communication.

Wrong. Absolutely wrong in such a sickeningly retarded way I'll try to explain it to you as if you ride the short bus and then get lost somewhere in the details while ignoring whatever you say and breaking down into a simplified slurry of anti-logic I'll then forget why I was doing it in the first place and then that's all buried in time and the only thing in the ashes is wasted effort.

So yes. But you're still wrong.

ur wrong

[Creamcorn]

Aren't we all wrong at some point?

Come on, if there is something out there in the universe that is huge, there is with 101% certainty that there is another thing that is larger than it. Now apply this statement to everything else than try to be the best that you can in everything.

[Labs]

Creamcorn, you may have just adverted a flame war.

[Idiom]

if there is something out there in the universe that is huge, there is with 101% certainty that there is another thing that is larger than it.

Creamcorn, you may have just adverted a flame war.

Actually I think he just proved half the entries in the Guinness World Record books are void.

[sonerohi]

He also proved that one can indeed have more than 100%, and that whatever we acheive will be bested by someone, or already has been. There is no point... no dreams. There is only your head, the revolver, and your resolve.

[Alexhans]

You're all absolutely wrong!

So wrong that there's no point in explaining you why!!

Wrong Wrong Wrong!!!!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 
On a serious note:
Sometimes it is possible to approach people by making it plain that you DONT think you know more than them, that you respect them and that you will listen and think about their opinions, people who otherwise wouldn't pay attention to you...

[Cthulhu]

This is what I love about forums.  Many times in the past I have typed out something extremely unkind, and then thought "You know what, this is the opposite of a good idea" and not posted anything at all.  But yeah, IRL, I've been known to give in to the Beast and start ad homineming someone into submission.

[Luke_Prowler]

In Real life, it's pointless to argue, because the person who wins in the end is the person who doen't have have to worry about losing their job/teeth.

[Neonivek]

I mostly get tired of needing to say things in a way that other people would understand (In a "I don't think the way others do, I shouldn't type the way I think" sorta way).

For the most part I think maintaining sanity and self-control in a discussion is a worthy effort and it is embarassing to me to do otherwise.