Why do we bother arguing online

I have changed a bit from the arguments of others, but not enough for those with whom I strongly disagree. I am questioning the point of online arguments though, it has gotten to the point that I know what people will post before they do it, and they probably feel the same about me.

 

Wrong, wrong, wrong, OMG you are so wrong (insert smiley here)

 

You can learn things, but if the same Posters are commenting over and over, then you are just arguing with the same person.

I personally think discussion is great, regardless of content. Too bad it's hard to decipher the tone of another by how they type. CAPS IS YELLING and lower case is whispering?

 

It is in my nature to be non-confrontational, but I also love a good argument every now and then.

That being said, there are various kinds of arguments I see online. I think that the one's most often seen on the internet are between two people with unwavering view points who can't comprehend that there's another side to the issue. Most of the time it is people not seeing eye to eye and not willing to compromise - they will never get anything out of that fight.

Then you have the basic trolls who just antagonize and instigate. These are the people to be ignored, not to be appeased by fighting back.

 

I've learned a lot from many of the arguments here. Often my opinion has been changed, other times, not so much. At the very least, I'm thoroughly glad to have had the opportunity to hear other's perspectives and reasoning. Often just that alone can do wonders.

 

I have learned a lot too from online discussions.. I think it all depends on whether or not you want to be right or be informed.

 

We have to argue online, otherwise we will never know what the best bass for metal is

 

Or if a pick is better than fingerstyle.

 

Or if jazz musicians are overated.

 

Oh crap. I just noticed you're in baton rouge. I'm originally from lafayette

 

Its not, give up trying or ragequit.

 

I think an unquantified effect of forum debates is what the lurkers and quiet readers are taking in and processing. There have been many topics that I read up on in here and saw two people going at it on (i.e. - if a sonic maximizer does anything, cone space's effect on volume, and under/overpowering speaker myths) and formulated my conclusion about those topics based on the points presented.

I think cable news on any station is a joke these days and is more for entertainment than anything, but the concept with a televised debate is the same as what I presented in the previous paragraph. Some things are worth investigating or debating, but I stay away from things you can't quantify or can boil down to opinion. So I'll participate in a debate on the benefits of all-tube amps, but I'll stay away from the "What's the best bass for metal" arguments

 

I love the debates, and I almost always learn something from them. I have changed my mind about some things, although I think my general "take" on situations isn't going to change much at all. But there is always knowledge to be had out there, and none of us have a monopoly on it.

 

Here's another way to look at it:

The only opinion I have seen change is my own.
The only opinion I can see change is my own.
The only opinion I'm really interested in changing is my own.

 

Arguing:

a) I'm a passionate man. I can't contain all my passion all the time.

b) I'm a playful man, and there's far less play involved in agreement. Disagreement is where the energy's at.

c) I'm a curious man. I sometimes like to take a position just to see why it's unpopular. Unfortunately, curiosity looks similar to trolling, according to the number of automated PM's I receive.

 

Heh, I actually do this sometimes as well. I found that one of the best ways to learn about a topic is to defend the side you don't agree with. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out for me

 

Yep...I play devils advocate all the time just to spark conversation. Ticks my wife off.