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Up and Coming
May 15, 2017
Question

Arguing on the internet

Scott Adams (the guy who writes and draws Dilbert) has a blog.  
In that blog he has written all sorts of things that are controversial.  Hell, he predicted Trump's election months and months (a year?) before it happened.  He's also a  published writer and trained hypnotist, among other things.  

His latest post was pretty interesting because it echoes one of my long-held axioms of forum arguments - ad hominem is the last resort of someone who is fresh out of logical responses.  Here it is for those of you who might enjoy reading it.

Scott Adams lists three other ways to tell you've "won" a political argument, but I think these apply equally to the discussions we have here on the board.  I know I've been guilty of a few of these over the years, so I'm going to try to avoid them if possible.
I guess this is fair warning that I'm going to judge others based on a few of his criteria as well.  If you commit any of these four internet argument sins, I'm going to smile and move on to another subject.

I know this may fall on deaf ears so I've prepared a quote from Arnold in his breakout role: 
"And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!"

    115 replies

    nalex66
    Honored Contributor
    May 18, 2017

    zboson said:

    Personally, I wish there were more "Priggish Grammar Troll's" in these forums. Not the kind that try to win an argument by attacking your grammar. But the kind that attack your grammar because the are fed up seeing bad grammar.

    But I am one of the last people to lecture others on grammar because I am actually an awful writer and I struggle with language.


    I'm very attentive to grammar and syntax, but I try not to be over-zealous about correcting people. I'll edit my own posts repeatedly, even months later, if I spot a spelling error. Incorrect use of "there/their/they're" and "your/you're" drives me crazy, and "could of" makes me cringe, but really, nobody likes a grammar nazi, so I usually just let it pass.

    Not to mention lack of punctuation...

    elboffor said:

    Pfft
    Not read the link (cba)
    I win because i am right
    Drops mic walks away

    (Keeps looking back to see whats said)


    Boffo, you're making me twitch. :s
    DK2, CV1, Go, Quest, Quest 2, Quest 3. Try my game: Cyclops Island Demo
    Honored Contributor
    May 18, 2017
    I dont, see, a problum? Seams foine to me mate, easel of a bot ok ? , and a full stop.
    A PC with lots of gadgets inside and a thing to see in 3D that you put on your head.
    Inspiring
    May 18, 2017
    for me, its not so much about "winning" but seeing the other person indirectly / unknowingly express their ignorance, then you know to ignore them.
    A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text. Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? A: Top-posting. Q: What is the most annoying thing on forums?
    May 18, 2017
    For me it is none of the above

    Its watching them through their downstairs windows typing away thinking they have won  :|
    Honored Contributor
    May 18, 2017
    Jesus mate !!!! Capital F at the start of your sentence please !!!! @nalex66 will be after your arse   :o
    A PC with lots of gadgets inside and a thing to see in 3D that you put on your head.
    Up and Coming
    May 18, 2017
    This meme sums up probably the most important lesson I learned studying particle physics

    I'm not sure how relevant this meme is to this discussion. I mostly wanted to post this because I like it (it's the 2nd meme I have posted - is it a meme?) I don't come here for enlightenment. I'm here for the entertainment.
    nalex66
    Honored Contributor
    May 18, 2017

    Techy111 said:

    Jesus mate !!!! Capital F at the start of your sentence please !!!! @nalex66 will be after your arse   :o


    Use a period (or other appropriate punctuation) at the end of your final sentence, please!  ;)

    Also, those spaces before the exclamation points are misplaced.  ARRGGHH, FACIAL TIC INTENSIFIES!!

    Image result for sheldon facial tic
    DK2, CV1, Go, Quest, Quest 2, Quest 3. Try my game: Cyclops Island Demo
    Inspiring
    May 18, 2017
    nO ned fir capsss
    This is my forum signature. There are many others like it, but this is mine.
    Zenbane
    Honored Contributor
    May 18, 2017
    Arguing is like sex,

    Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad.
    Sometimes there's a climax, other times an abrupt end.
    But no matter what type, when it's all said and done,
    Someone's ass was undone and you best not be the one.

    Inspiring
    May 18, 2017
    When reading the thread title I was sure I was gonna see the ole politically incorrect meme.

    Color me surprised :smile: