I’m not writing to the crackpot I’m responding to. I’m writing to the lurkers on the fence wondering if he has a valid point.
That might be why I’m so used to replies that look like long-form essays. It takes a lot more words to explain nuance and invite critical thought than it does to shitpost.
Everyone just wants an echo chamber and the internet is happy to oblige
You’re so right.
How else are they supposed to virtue signal?
I’m honestly not a big fan of virtue signaling, but maybe that’s just me. I just don’t think dramatically stating an obviously popular opinion, like you’re some sacrificial martyr, really adds much to the discussion. Crucify me in the comments, if you must!
You’re never going to change their minds. That’s not the point. The point is to push back against them. So people who see the interaction will see the rebuttal and the pushback against the insanity. That’s the important part.
You don’t change the view of the person you are arguing with on the internet, you are putting a red flag so that would-be readers don’t fall into the rabbit hole.
Well, the alternative is a bunch of crackpot comments with no pushback (except downvotes) and 3-10x less actually-decent-takes
The number of threads that I’ve just completely abandoned on .ml when I realize I’m trying to reason with morons is too damn high.
Going to .ml looking for an enlightened discussion is like going to the zoo looking for a glory hole.
It was never about winning.
It was always about getting shit off on strangers for self-gratification, and public shaming for reprehensible behaviours/ beliefs.
I’ve found that, while you can’t convince a crackpot of anything, you can study them like a scientific specimen and it can be quite interesting
My rule to live by (and this seems to trigger people online for some reason whenever I say it): never engage with comments online. I’ll post a comment, but >99% of the time there is no reason to reply. Someone has to make it abundantly clear that they are responding in good faith to warrant a response. My life has been much better since I started doing this and I would strongly recommend everyone try it out.
I enjoy the banter back and forth until the person doubles down, then it’s over
"Reasoning will never make a Man correct an ill Opinion, which by Reasoning he never acquired.
- Jonathan Swift, A Letter to a Young Gentleman, Lately Enter’d Into Holy Orders, 1721 C.E.
Its not about converting the crackpots, its about pushing back on insane bullshit so others are less likely to become crackpots.
This is why dissent is important. Visibility.
Agreed. Where do you draw the line between downvoting and potentially feeding the trolls? I’m having a hard time with that. When someone is acting like an ignorant contrarian, I’m inclined to ignore them.
I feel like there’s a certain point where you’re no longer pushing back against the crackpots and just arguing with a brick wall.
I start off with the logic, and when they double down on bullshit and toxicity I just keep spotlighting the terrible rhetoric with no substance. In a “like damn dude, your 3rd grade teacher would be disappointed in your writing” way.
You have to out dumb them and take away their argument.
Vaccines cause autism? It’s caused by aliens to force us to build another pyramid so they can land their ship here to harvest the squirrels.
I hold myself to slightly higher standards. I’m not above insulting and throwing toxicity back, but I am honest about it to stop it from undercutting my argumentation.
That reminds me, I really must check my inbox
No, I won’t.
Fuck your “reason”, people covet their own logical prowess but in reality they didn’t come to their views on their own nor their way of seeing things on their own. In fact, it’s a weakness borrowed from others, based on flawed methodology and is what got you into the situation you’re in now.
I ain’t teaching a class, believe me or don’t, I dgaf.
99% of people are mostly interested in confirming their own myopic view, to the degree that they will commit violence to ensure it. If someone reaches out a hand, I will grab it, but that’s exceedingly rare and it’s not my day job to fish randos out of their own ignorance un-asked.
