The argument against internet arguments
 

I recently read on the Fark.com forums "Your not going to change anyones mind on this subject, so why bother arguing about it?"

Which got me thinking, why do people argue things over the internet? I myself have a Zero-Infinity record for winning people over, I don't think there are terribly many people with better ones.

The closest explaination that I can think of would be that arguing over the internet is like lifting weights for the mind. You don't really accomplish anything, but it's a good work out none-the-less.

I don't think the objective of arguing on the internet is to change people’s minds. It's to establish a meaningful dialect so that the participants learn from the discussion. Still, once in a while you can change minds. Once I actually got a Christian girl to finally realize that homosexuality is not a matter of choice. That was definitely my finest moment. The amateur eugenics stuff didn't fly so well though so I guess it can depend on the merits of what you’re arguing.

I personally "argue" for enlightenment no matter where I am arguing. Unless they are blatently wrong.. by arguing with the people online (most of whom are vasty more intelligent than others that I've met) I can gain the opinions that others might not voice irl. Not to mention I know about 600 people from Finland/Britian, France, Switzerland, and other European countries and its nice to hear their opinions also.

People argue because their pride dominates over their common sense. S'all I really think there is to it.

i've seen minds changed...

or at least arguments and reasonings develop beyond where they began.

I think its quite fun to argue with people over the internet, its an interlectual past time.

The exchange of ideas is more important then the changing off one's minds. There is also some pride in it. As well as the goof feeling you get for proving someone who inteligently debated with you wrong, it's something to be smug about. The internet is just another tool for discussion really. Though I belive to change peoples minds, it needs to be in person, and a non-hostile enviroment(as in, don't scream and yell)

Yah, I'm with Zeth. I've seen a few minds change... and even changed mine once or twice. It can happen... but it is also relatively rare. The main reason I do it is, as Tommathy said, it's a good work out for the mind. Keeps my logical/critical thinking and vocabulary sharp.

hurrah interlectualism! :-p



also, arguing often doesn't change the mind of the person you are arguing with (there's pride issues involved in admitting defeat)... but it CAN affect the veiws of people listening in. I've had several people PM me or IM me and say "hey, that'sa good point you made" with out jumping into the discussion itself.


i once had an infuriating debate on a different website a while back that went on for about 50 posts on self defense. at one point one guy emailed me to say "rock on!" and i was like "this is such a pain in the ass. there's no point arguing any more!" and the guy was like "sure there is. There are people reading who, with out your counter argument, would have believed what they were saying"

holding up ideological ideals is almost a duty to anyone who really believes in them.

I've changed my minds about a couple things. But, that's just because I think stubborness is idiotic and evil. But, don't forget that arguing is fun. Spouting off things you know and some you just guess, using logic to pin somebody down like a wallabee on a jackrabbit. Or even, y'know, recognizing different views as perfectly acceptable.


Wallabee on a jackrabbit? What the hell?