A debate is really just a show where the people you’re trying to win over are the audience, not the other person. The way to win such a verbal fisticuffs is to make your opponent look like a fool while making yourself look good. Trolls specialize in getting under people’s skin, which allows them to shape the conversation in predictable ways. Giving your opponent the rope to hang themselves on is the winning strategy in online debates, not having a better argument than them.
A troll doesn’t win the debate, trolls kill debates
On the other hand sometimes killing a “debate” is the best outcome.
How many times has some far right chud dropped of the radar after being absolutely humiliated?
“best outcome” yes, but not a “winning strategy”
A debate is really just a show where the people you’re trying to win over are the audience, not the other person. The way to win such a verbal fisticuffs is to make your opponent look like a fool while making yourself look good. Trolls specialize in getting under people’s skin, which allows them to shape the conversation in predictable ways. Giving your opponent the rope to hang themselves on is the winning strategy in online debates, not having a better argument than them.