Following the recent “trouble” with certain members of another message board I went to check out said message board and I am trying to decide whether it’s worth registering over there in order to debate with them.
I would register under another name and of course I would never mention this board (as per Tuba’s instructions) - it would be entirely my own undertaking.
Far as I can see the arguments in favour and against are as follows:
In Favour
there’s some serious amount of ignorance on display, most of it quite easy to dispel
I might change a few peoples minds over there or at least challenge a few prejudices (if not of the actual posters then maybe of lurkers reading the board)
the people there seem to have strongly held views which means I could have some real ding-dong arguments over there and, I have to admit, I quite like arguing. In fact, if truth be told, I can be an argumentative sob. I especially enjoy arguing with people who have stongly-held views, the stronger their view is held the more I enjoy arguing with them, trying to turn their mindset around.
One of the problems with the SDMB is that everyone is so damn reasonable all the time and people keep coming up with perfectly respectable, authoritative cites. Finding a good argument here can sometimes be hard, but over there it would be like a turkey-shoot. I’d be in heaven, I’d be as happy as a pig in shit. All those people with strong views and yet they’re all so wrong. Not just wrong but provably, demonstrably, arguably wrong.
Against
their prejudices run so deep that it could be a case of banging my head against a wall
err that’s it. I can’t think of any more “against” arguments.
I’ve deliberately not mentioned the name of “the other board” so it won’t show up in a search but it’s an anagram of “forcestrom”.
Is it worth arguing with them? I’d quite like to but I’m not sure it’s worth the effort. Also I’d have to argue quite carefully so I don’t get banned straight away - this means I’d have to argue unemotionally and dispassionately.
Whilst perusing their board I actually felt sorry for them more than anything else, it must be quite hard working up that level of hatred every morning before you start the day. Generally speaking, I like everybody. I couldn’t be arsed trying to go through the day trying to remember who I’m supposed to hate and who I’m supposed to like.
But I can be quite good at arguing sometimes so maybe I should turn my attention to those that need my “talents” most? I dunno.
No, Jojo I don’t think arguing with extremists is time well spent. Most extremist beliefs are based on emotions, not facts, and emotions can’t be argued. On the other hand, if you just want to do it for the enjoyment, go for it and have fun. Just don’t expect to change anyone’s mind.
I did attempt to post over there (giving no hint of other message board affiliations), and, since posts are vetted by a moderator, mine never saw the light of CRT.
Naw, arguing with extremists is like teaching pigs to sing, you just waste your time and annoy the pig. Besides, you’d probably get bored-arguing facts with them would be an the intellectual equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel, with the fish being to dumb to know it. Just stick with your own kind, those with IQ’s above double digits
D.E.S.K.Top-An extremist in the fight for moderation in all things.
Agreed. People only change their minds if their own experiences cause them to decide their past ideas are invalid. Arguing with them is unlikely to do any good. Admittedly, it might be entertaining to see somebody spew ridiculous paranoid ideas without any factual support (okay, it is amusing), but don’t expect logic or evidence to the contrary to make them do anything other than call you names.
Eve is right. It is fun. That’s why the mods have to yell “DNFTT!” at us so often. Sometimes it’s just too entertaining to resist.
Personally though, I couldn’t spend any time at that particular web site. I poked around over there a little bit, and those folks just turn my stomach. Yuck.
Hmm, I guess you’re all probably right. It isn’t really worth the bother (except in terms of my own amusement).
Shakira said:
Actually yes, I would. I do it all the time. That’s what I mean about strongly-held views being more fun to argue against.
Ringo said:
I think only your first post goes via a moderator so the way round this is to make your first post innocuous and innocent, maybe a test post.
Ferrous said:
I know what you mean. After poking around in there the other day, I felt like I needed to take a shower.
Maybe I’ll go in there anyway though just for a laugh - maybe lob the occasional intellectual grenade into a thread every so often just to cause mayhem.
Actually I think we should send Justhink over (our secret weapon) to see what they make of his world-view.
I’m still trying to understand why this is a problem.
As far as “mort fronts” goes, I don’t see the value in arguing for the benefit of lurkers. It’s worth it here, because we attract such a wide variety of people, but anybody who stumbles across their hateful little cave and doesn’t share in their lunacy is unlikely to stick around. You might as well go to the zoo and try to argue the tiger out of his stripes.
If you have fun listening to yourself scream, hey, knock yourself out. Don’t expect to accomplish anything, though.
I just checked back on that board and it seems that they have become aware of this thread so a mod may close this whenever, I don’t want to start a board war. A board war isn’t in the interests of either board because it just ties up the servers of both.
I apologise if I have caused any trouble for anyone.
I tried to post over there a few times but none of my posts appeared so it seems ringo may be right - they stifle dissent in accordance with their totalitarian, saddam-like, philosophy.
Thats why all the posts you see seem to be pro their position - it’s because they don’t allow you to see all the dissenting posts.
Since I have now realised this, I am forced to draw the conclusion that that site is a pile of shite.
The only good reason to argue with extremists is to make them look stupid in front of others . Sure, it’s juvenile, but we all need a lift sometime. At least I’m not beating little kids or something.
