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Zoomie
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!"

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    PixlmechStudios
    Up and Coming
    May 18, 2017
    The problem with arguing on the internet is youre arguing with people who would otherwise not be able to make any valid points without the internet. If I ask someone in the street "whats the capitol of  Chicago"? Theyre forced to show you what they know and dont know. If I ask someone on the internet whats the square root of 17, they can easily google it, or anything for that matter and never have to show you that they in fact didnt have the answer. The internet can make people look smarter than what they are.

    I personally always see, its not what the person has to say or how they say it, but rather what tangible evidence do they have in the real world that gives them credibility for actually being a critical thinker.

    I dont mind debating or arguing with any real artist because I know that they have the ability to think outside the box versus someone who can only repeat what they heard or saw.

    average people argue, people with intellect debate issues to which have no definitive answer,

    See,  most people think an argument is won when theyve made their point. An Intellect knows the argument is won when both said parties are in agreement. If the opposite occurs, both said parties did not present their case good enough. I personally dont argue or debate people I cant see, but I do say things that force predictable answers from the normals time to time. But its strictly for my educational purposes. If I say the earth is flat, I dont have to believe it, but I will know exactly who you are, your education level, your philosophical level, and over all understanding of life, based on how you reply to it.

    People are dying to prove what they dont know just have to convince them that you know less. In conclusion, Ive studied every UFO case that ever happened, and Im still trying to find intelligent life on earth.
    Asus strix mobo/Asus 1080ti strix 8gb.  Ryzen 7,custom water loop,thermaltake P5 case, 32gb Corsiar Veng RGB, samsung Evo,250,500, Velociraptor 250gb, 2TB backup, 6 display, 50inch main, KRK studio 5.1 surround.
    Zenbane
    Zenbane
    Honored Contributor
    May 18, 2017

    PixlmechStudios said:

    The problem with arguing on the internet is youre arguing with people who would otherwise not be able to make any valid points without the internet. If I ask someone in the street "whats the capitol of  Chicago"? Theyre forced to show you what they know and dont know. If I ask someone on the internet whats the square root of 17, they can easily google it, or anything for that matter and never have to show you that they in fact didnt have the answer. The internet can make people look smarter than what they are.

    I personally always see, its not what the person has to say or how they say it, but rather what tangible evidence do they have in the real world that gives them credibility for actually being a critical thinker.

    I dont mind debating or arguing with any real artist because I know that they have the ability to think outside the box versus someone who can only repeat what they heard or saw.

    average people argue, people with intellect debate issues to which have no definitive answer,

    See,  most people think an argument is won when theyve made their point. An Intellect knows the argument is won when both said parties are in agreement. If the opposite occurs, both said parties did not present their case good enough. I personally dont argue or debate people I cant see, but I do say things that force predictable answers from the normals time to time. But its strictly for my educational purposes. If I say the earth is flat, I dont have to believe it, but I will know exactly who you are, your education level, your philosophical level, and over all understanding of life, based on how you reply to it.

    People are dying to prove what they dont know just have to convince them that you know less. In conclusion, Ive studied every UFO case that ever happened, and Im still trying to find intelligent life on earth.


    Keep in mind that when you recently argued on the Internet (on this forum)... you tried winning the argument by posting a Shirtless Selfie.
    Calmfixup
    Inspiring
    May 18, 2017

    kojack said:


    Calmfixup said:


    Firstly, he's saying all the arguments on the internet fall into one of those categories.


    He says that IF your opponent starts using one of those, then you can consider a political argument over. Not that all internet arguments fall into those categories.



    Anyway...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y






    Saxaboom
    Up and Coming
    May 18, 2017

    cybereality said:

    The author missed one: Once people start posting Monty Python videos, the argument is over.


    I would like to think that when you post a Monty Python video, rather than the argument being over, it's more of an interlude, where people from the UK laugh profusely, while others shake their head thinking we're just a bit weird with our humour (yes we spell it with a 'U' the proper way). Either way it gives us all time to regather our thoughts and reconvene in our newly dug trenches.
    ZoomieAuthor
    Up and Coming
    May 18, 2017
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0wOD9TWynM
    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Arthur C Clarke
    elboffor
    Inspiring
    May 19, 2017

    Storm_Cloud said:
    Humour (yes we spell it with a 'U' the proper way).


    But the first english dictionary was written by an american and he just decided which to use  out of all the different regional spellings. 

    So do we really spell it correctly?

    The answer is yes.

    This is my forum signature. There are many others like it, but this is mine.
    Tadin
    Up and Coming
    May 19, 2017
    I found this spoon Sir !
    zboson
    Up and Coming
    May 19, 2017
    There are also cultural difference in the way people argue/discuss.  I have worked for many years in international organizations. Some examples.

    An American friend had a job interview with an American firm and a British firm. The Americans were very positive and the British humiliated him (at least that is how he previewed it as an American). He expected he would get the American job but in fact he got the job offer from the British company. American tend to be more positive and the British more negative but it's easily misinterpreted.

    Understanding cultural differences can save you some grief.
    PixlmechStudios
    Up and Coming
    May 20, 2017
    @Zenbane not for nothing you are truly on my jock.. I wasnt trying to win an argument, I was having beers and using you for entertainment, Your too stupid in real life to notice. I post a shirtless pic in all honesty, because I can. I made a statement about not having to lie about anything in life, cause I get money, women, and I take care of my business. I just wanted to make sure you knew who you was talking too because I dont have to hide behind a computer like some fat insecure virgin. That was a pic I took in the basement of a building after working out, its a pic that was once my FB main pic, its a pic thats been online before you knew what oculus was. Again, Im not responding to you, unless I feel like using you for entertainment, I told you, I piss further than you., And it tells me a lot about you, when the topic is of something else. and all you can remember is my shirtless pic. Get my shirtless pic out your head lmaooo. I dont argue with people I cant see, for all I know you could be some old bag in a wheel chair who lives behind the monitor. And I know youll respond to this, because you cant help yourself. I told you, I know who you are and what youre about... lata loser. If ever you wanna compete with work or art then talk to me.. And that goes for anyone who thinks they can challenge me creatively.. and those 3 clowns who loled your comment, I know everything about them too, those are called followers lmao.
    Asus strix mobo/Asus 1080ti strix 8gb.  Ryzen 7,custom water loop,thermaltake P5 case, 32gb Corsiar Veng RGB, samsung Evo,250,500, Velociraptor 250gb, 2TB backup, 6 display, 50inch main, KRK studio 5.1 surround.
    Zenbane
    Zenbane
    Honored Contributor
    May 20, 2017
    @PixlmechStudios you are a guy who sent another guy a topless pic after losing an argument on the Internet. That speaks volumes of both your intellect and upbringing.
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