Why do I keep getting sucked into internet debates arguing the merits of just war theory against pacifists when, in fact, I’m against 99% of all wars actually waged? Is this what they mean by “the narcissism of small differences”?
Why do I do it?
Comments
6 responses to “Why do I do it?”
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I hear ya. I once got into a debate on my Livejournal with a guy who was arguing with me about abortion, but we both agreed it was wrong! I think we were both trying to make each other accept our own epistemology as the right one… or something.
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Heh, was this internet debate on LJ with a guy I link to from time to time? I think I may have seen it, although it seemed pretty respectable. Cory spends a bunch of time debating ultra-conservatives all over the internet… I don’t know why he does it, even though he’s good at it, because like I’ve mentioned in a post of mine, those kind of heated discussions never really get anywhere. I’m not saying you’re ultra-conservative, though! I have a pretty good grasp of where you stand after these few months of reading your rather thoughtful blog — I’m just saying I don’t think Cory (perpetual_lent) really knows you, which would explain his (IMO) slightly jaded response.
If you’re referring to another online discussion, my apologies for my long-windedness, I justed noticed this one that seemed to take place earlier today in some of my backtracking.
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Yeah, that was the one. I seem to have this character defect which demands I pick arguments with people even when I agree with them about 90% of the time. (My wife could tell you all about it!)
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The allure of the internet arguement is a hard thing to resist sometimes. I think a lot of people are emboldened by the fact they don’t have to say things to your opponent’s face and there’s less likelyhood that your opponent could beat you up.
For some reason, the net has a very large proportion of ideologues too. I can’t quite figure out why, but there seem to be very few truly open-minded people looking for dialogue. Most seem to be only interested with fighting people on the “other side” of their pet ideology.
All that said, I think your blog is a haven of sanity and civil discussion depite the occasional buffoon that wonders in. -
Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself, Josh! 😉
But seriously, folks, I think the level of civility is ususally inversely proportionate to the number of visitors. Best to keep a low profile (I think I’m doin’ a pretty good job!)
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On the other hand, I have people coming over to my blog or various friends on AIM who often want to pick fights with me. It gets tiresome, even demoralizing, especially when their* methods are very manipulative.
*like yesterday when a friend of mine wanted to start something. Ugh. I don’t mind civil discussion, but when all signals point to them just trying to get me to agree with them, then it just ends up being a waste of both of our times, not to mention the fact that I tend to feel pretty hurt by that kind of thing.
[/done venting now, sorry :)]
A Thinking Reed 
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