First, I’ll say I too am sick to death of people making Hitler comparisons. Boooring.
What I can’t stand about online debate is the way I get many more “corrections” to statements I have made than answers to direct questions I have asked. I suppose this is because answering questions is boring, whereas it’s fun to go hunting for misstatements and correct them.
Example I -
Boris: So the other day, I experienced the Doppler effect when a plane flew by. How does the Doppler effect work?
[no response]
Example II -
Boris: So the other day, I experienced the Doppler effect when a plane flew by. In case you were wondering, the Doppler effect is a “squashing” of wavelength, that occurs when an object is coming toward you, and the comensurate “stretching” of retreating objects’ wavelengths.
BusyBody: You stink. The Doppler effect is not the “squashing” of a wavelength, it is the COMPRESSION of a wavelength. And of course you failed to mention that when the object is going away, the wavelengths are EXPANDED.
Boris: What’s the difference between compression and squashing?
BusyBody: Plus, the Doppler effect isn’t limited to planes. You still stink.
Boris: The difference between compression and squashing is purely semantic.
BusyBody: No it’s not. They are different because they are different.
Boris: Say, isn’t there a sale on Quiet Riot CDs over at Tower? Yow!
Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group.
What I don’t like is that people who are obviously cretins have the time to go and look up information before responding to you. This may make them seem like they actually know what they’re talking about but really all they have done is look up the specific info they needed without actually having any understanding of the subject.
For example I was trying to disprove some idiot’s assertion that violence is evil because it causes entropy. I gave a good definition of entropy. What happens? Idiot goes and looks up entropy in the dictionary and says “You’re wrong. The dictionary says this…”.
There are very thick books dealing with thermodynamics yet this person thinks he has learned what he needs from a 20 word entry in a dictionary.
This example is specific to the part about people skimming your post, not finding a certain part, and then complaining that you “forgot” that part. The victim this time was torq, not me. Yay!
OOOO! Grammar hounds are pretty annoying. In text based language many people don’t have the typing capabilities necessary for communication on an equal par to their speech or regular writing. If the point is being conveyed makes sense why bother with correcting grammar and spelling? Obviously if you correct it then you can read it.
HUGS!
Sqrl
Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter
The only thing that drives me crazy is when somebody makes a statement that is wrong, then, after you have written an explanation of why exactly it is wrong, their only response is, “I still think I’m right.” No reasoning behind it. Just because they’re right. AGH!!!
Cessandra
Why sex is better than religion: There are laws against forcing sex on minors who can’t think for themselves.
sqrlcub, shouldn’t there be a comma after “obviously”? Just kidding.
Yes, I am sometimes torn between having pet peeves about grammar errors and pet peeves about grammar hounds. How’s that for hypocritical? I tend to just try to repress them both. sigh
Thanks, pricciar.
By the way, I didn’t want anybody to think my “Doppler effect” example was real. It was fictitious, and a composite. No conversation I’ve had (here on SDMB) has been that annoying.
Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group.
“speech and debate” is in my “interests” section of my profile. I’m on the executive board of the speech and debate team at my college.
But the thing is I’m not that good at speaking. My thought processes are a bit too erratic and random; I tend to go off on tangents and get distracted a lot mid-sentence. In writing, however, I’m MUCH better and more coherent; and I routinely tear apart one of our best policy debaters whenever he has the nerve to bring up an argument in email (I even used a quotation from a favorite book of mine to attack his argument (basically said he was full of hot air) and he called me up to argue over the phone but started out by saying, “First of all, Daniel, I love your quotation.”)
yeah I sound like I’m bragging (and that’s probably what I’m doing) but my point is that I love internet debates a lot more than spoken ones.
and if you’re still with me (i.e. not completely disgusted by my ego-stroking post), I have this to share: since alt.fan.cecil-adams is where I originally learned of The Brunching Shuttlecocks, I figured I’d come full circle and offer this link for your amusement:
I hate people who do not answer a question when asked it or do not acknowledge an answer when given it. In real life or on-line. Annoys the piss out of me…
Back on the original topic: I’ve noticed that there’s something of an unwritten rule on Usenet (at least in most forums) that bringing up Hitler automatically ends the discussion. Rationality from that point forward is just not possible, so it’s dropped.
Great rule. Puts an end to those who can’t argue creatively. Also, you can purposely end any conversation by saying, “Hitler Hitler Hitler.”
Oops, your rule doesn’t work.
As for nobody ever changing their mind on-line (but off the SDMB): I got into a discussion in a mailing list with a Hitleristic [I couldn’t resist] dude about place names (of mountains, towns, etc.) honoring historic figures he didn’t care for. I suggested he not look at those particular names as honoring those guys but rather as them simply keeping them in front of the public where enlightened dudes could use the opportunities to point out all the guys’ failings. While I do believe in what I wrote, I was rather taken aback when he came around to my way of thinking on that. It just seemed to easy. (How perverse of me.)
As for Campbell’s typo, I quite enjoyed it. That’s certainly the best one I’ve seen here so far.
