Real life discussions never again
October 11, 2013 at 7:08 pm
(This post was last modified: October 11, 2013 at 7:11 pm by Gilgamesh.)
I can't do it anymore. Discussions that take place face-to-face lend themselves too well to bullshit. Discussion boards have spoiled me.
The advantages of having discussions take place in discussion board format:
1. The advantage of turn-based exchanges: You cannot be inhibited from addressing any of the content of your opponents post(s). Face-to-face you can be cut off; All your opponent has to do is raise his/her voice and start talking, and you're cut off before you address everything your opponent said previously, or cut off in the middle of presenting your argument against a specific point (fukkin rustles my jimmies.) The potential for unsupported claims or fallacious reasoning to bypass onus or reason arises; they're hurriedly buried beneath more unsupported claims and fallacies before they get the chance to be brought to light (or rather, 'scrutiny' - if you don't believe in the cleansing truth of gods light)
2. The advantage of having all content written/saved: You have the ability to look over everything that has been exchanged between you and your opponent, exactly as it has been said. Having this ability is useful for a kajillion reasons, but I'll name 3 that come to mind first:
a) In the event that your opponent contradicts him/herself, it can be easily spotted and more easily pointed out.
b) In the event that your opponent commits a strawman fallacy, or starts to stray away from the subject of discussion, is to easier to point out that he/she is no longer arguing against your position, or that he has strayed away from the general subject, by simply directing him/her to a previous posting.
c) Generally just being able to give every word spoken its due assessing is hugely advantageous, that is, if the purpose of a discussion is to find truths.
3. The advantage of the discussion not taking place in real-time: You have all the time in the world to think your response through, make it as best read as possible (make use of that vocabulary, son) and to assess all content; not having to worry about your opponent taking a moment of silence as his/her queue to fire up again.
4. The advantage of having your discussion take place in text, on a monitor, as opposed to having it take place in speech, between two (or more) living, breathing bodies of flesh: The subject of discussion holds more emphasis when the discussion is impersonal. People are more likely to be influenced or swayed by emotion in person, because it's easier to convey it in person.
After having what might as well be a room-mate for 2 months, I've let myself have a few exchanges with the guy, and these (unpleasant) exchanges have made me realise just how much I value discussions that take place in discussion board format. I can't imagine trying to seriously debate anything with anyone ever again unless it's done on a forum. Fuck people; I tried, and they failed. If you want to talk, go to your room and get on your computer; I'll be on mine.
Does anyone else know these feels?
The advantages of having discussions take place in discussion board format:
1. The advantage of turn-based exchanges: You cannot be inhibited from addressing any of the content of your opponents post(s). Face-to-face you can be cut off; All your opponent has to do is raise his/her voice and start talking, and you're cut off before you address everything your opponent said previously, or cut off in the middle of presenting your argument against a specific point (fukkin rustles my jimmies.) The potential for unsupported claims or fallacious reasoning to bypass onus or reason arises; they're hurriedly buried beneath more unsupported claims and fallacies before they get the chance to be brought to light (or rather, 'scrutiny' - if you don't believe in the cleansing truth of gods light)
2. The advantage of having all content written/saved: You have the ability to look over everything that has been exchanged between you and your opponent, exactly as it has been said. Having this ability is useful for a kajillion reasons, but I'll name 3 that come to mind first:
a) In the event that your opponent contradicts him/herself, it can be easily spotted and more easily pointed out.
b) In the event that your opponent commits a strawman fallacy, or starts to stray away from the subject of discussion, is to easier to point out that he/she is no longer arguing against your position, or that he has strayed away from the general subject, by simply directing him/her to a previous posting.
c) Generally just being able to give every word spoken its due assessing is hugely advantageous, that is, if the purpose of a discussion is to find truths.
3. The advantage of the discussion not taking place in real-time: You have all the time in the world to think your response through, make it as best read as possible (make use of that vocabulary, son) and to assess all content; not having to worry about your opponent taking a moment of silence as his/her queue to fire up again.
4. The advantage of having your discussion take place in text, on a monitor, as opposed to having it take place in speech, between two (or more) living, breathing bodies of flesh: The subject of discussion holds more emphasis when the discussion is impersonal. People are more likely to be influenced or swayed by emotion in person, because it's easier to convey it in person.
After having what might as well be a room-mate for 2 months, I've let myself have a few exchanges with the guy, and these (unpleasant) exchanges have made me realise just how much I value discussions that take place in discussion board format. I can't imagine trying to seriously debate anything with anyone ever again unless it's done on a forum. Fuck people; I tried, and they failed. If you want to talk, go to your room and get on your computer; I'll be on mine.
Does anyone else know these feels?
