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Author Topic:   What's the point?

Saras posted 07-21-99 12:05 PM ET
I just thought (I do that sometimes ) that there is no point in rational debates on forums. See, since November I've been arguing about many things:
"capitalism is moral",
"socialism is bad",
"death to capital punishment",
"justice to Soviet KGB",
"Whether or not I was wrong to lash out on Bishop in 'A world through the eyes of a Marxist'"
"whether or not [name ignored] is an abortion 'subproduct'" or something
"lift the ban on smoking"
"freedom to bear arms"
"DaimlerChrysler is a *global* company with NO bias towards either Germany or US"
and in none of these my opponents said, "OK, you're right, I'm wrong". Neither did I.
SO WHAT IS THE POINT?
What a waste of time, isn't it, Octopus, Roland, DanS, tOFfGI, [name ignored], et al.?
bene4 posted 07-21-99 01:13 PM ET
The point is that you get to express your views. You don't have to deal with a person who constantly interrupts, turns away, throws temper tantrums (well...).
The point is that you can type uninterrupted and present the idea fully. There will still be the regular irrational responses, but they won't be right in the middle of your crowning point. And you can always comfort yourself into believing that *some* people are reading and changing your mind.
Trappist posted 07-21-99 01:30 PM ET
Don't ask me. I come here to argue with people. It's almost as good as sex.
As for your examples...
No
No
Yes
Yes
No idea.
I doubt it.
I had no idea it was banned.
No.
I've never heard of it doing much for Bhutan.
walruskkkch posted 07-21-99 03:16 PM ET
Excuse me, is this the right room for an argument?
Krushala posted 07-21-99 05:04 PM ET
Yes your are right. I agree with most of your views here, but I'm not sure what DaimlerChrysler is.
jig posted 07-21-99 11:15 PM ET
Saras, I said the same thing in a thread about religion and the wise Octopus answered me by saying debates about God or whatever isn't pointless because you learn something about yourself and probably more...
I'm going to start a cult and call it the Octopussy Clan. We shall worship Octopus.
GaryD posted 07-22-99 09:45 AM ET
Then can we all have a 'leg' each ?
Koshko posted 07-22-99 11:15 PM ET
Argueing the point is something to do. Imagine how boring any forum would be if no one expressed varying opinions.
Koshko posted 07-22-99 11:20 PM ET
By the way,
NO
NO
KILL EVERYONE EVIL
INDIFFERENT
NO IDEA
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A FETUS?
SMOKE IF YOU WANT, JUST DON'T BREATHE AT ME
DEPENDS
WHATEVER
MikeH II posted 07-23-99 11:58 AM ET
No
No
Yes
Yes
No idea
Probably
No
Of course it's got a bias.
Noisy posted 07-23-99 07:34 PM ET
Saras
You ask "What's the point?".
The point is that this is the best way to find out if arguments are universal. There is a fairly limited range of nationalities represented on the forums, but all arguments seem to follow the same lines. The majority of people cannot follow an argument, so veer off into inconsequentialities, and a small proportion argue coherently for or against a proposition. It seems to me that the human race is quite consistenent across national boundaries.
For my part, I have observed that the arguments on the forum tend to bring out the predominant viewpoint supporting a socialist view, but that the arguments that support these views are based on denying individual civil liberties to support the masses.
As you implied, these views haven't necessarily changed my own, and vice versa, but I think that my debating skills are being improved - if only by osmosis.
I can't wait until all the college students are back at university to join in all the debates again. I miss Octopus and Provost Harrison, in particular.
Keep the faith, and don't desert the sinking ship.
Noisy
Natguy posted 07-27-99 09:17 AM ET
When you say "Socialism is bad" do you mean in theory or in practice?
sandworm posted 07-27-99 09:41 AM ET
On second thought lets not go to the forum, its a silly place.
GaryD posted 07-27-99 12:06 PM ET
2p
amoral possibly, otherwise only in parts.
bad at what ? not overall
agreed
justice or vengeance ? what did you have in mind ?
no idea, didn't read it
eh ?
increase it. send them all to nicotine dens where they don't pollute us clean folk.
no, freedom to not have any possibility to be confronted by arms instead.
who cares ? certainly a global company doesn't care for you.
OK, you're wrong, I'm right.
Misho posted 07-31-99 08:05 PM ET
The point is that you are boring and stupid, you Lithuanian savage. Go hunt bears.
p.s. by the way I really don't trust you that you live in Litva. Maybe you are originally from that Russian province, but I think that you live in USA now.
Right?
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Author	Topic: What's the point?
Saras	posted 07-21-99 12:05 PM ET I just thought (I do that sometimes ) that there is no point in rational debates on forums. See, since November I've been arguing about many things: "capitalism is moral", "socialism is bad", "death to capital punishment", "justice to Soviet KGB", "Whether or not I was wrong to lash out on Bishop in 'A world through the eyes of a Marxist'" "whether or not [name ignored] is an abortion 'subproduct'" or something "lift the ban on smoking" "freedom to bear arms" "DaimlerChrysler is a global company with NO bias towards either Germany or US" and in none of these my opponents said, "OK, you're right, I'm wrong". Neither did I. SO WHAT IS THE POINT? What a waste of time, isn't it, Octopus, Roland, DanS, tOFfGI, [name ignored], et al.?
bene4	posted 07-21-99 01:13 PM ET The point is that you get to express your views. You don't have to deal with a person who constantly interrupts, turns away, throws temper tantrums (well...). The point is that you can type uninterrupted and present the idea fully. There will still be the regular irrational responses, but they won't be right in the middle of your crowning point. And you can always comfort yourself into believing that some people are reading and changing your mind.
Trappist	posted 07-21-99 01:30 PM ET Don't ask me. I come here to argue with people. It's almost as good as sex. As for your examples... No No Yes Yes No idea. I doubt it. I had no idea it was banned. No. I've never heard of it doing much for Bhutan.
walruskkkch	posted 07-21-99 03:16 PM ET Excuse me, is this the right room for an argument?
Krushala	posted 07-21-99 05:04 PM ET Yes your are right. I agree with most of your views here, but I'm not sure what DaimlerChrysler is.
jig	posted 07-21-99 11:15 PM ET Saras, I said the same thing in a thread about religion and the wise Octopus answered me by saying debates about God or whatever isn't pointless because you learn something about yourself and probably more... I'm going to start a cult and call it the Octopussy Clan. We shall worship Octopus.
GaryD	posted 07-22-99 09:45 AM ET Then can we all have a 'leg' each ?
Koshko	posted 07-22-99 11:15 PM ET Argueing the point is something to do. Imagine how boring any forum would be if no one expressed varying opinions.
Koshko	posted 07-22-99 11:20 PM ET By the way, NO NO KILL EVERYONE EVIL INDIFFERENT NO IDEA ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A FETUS? SMOKE IF YOU WANT, JUST DON'T BREATHE AT ME DEPENDS WHATEVER
MikeH II	posted 07-23-99 11:58 AM ET No No Yes Yes No idea Probably No Of course it's got a bias.
Noisy	posted 07-23-99 07:34 PM ET Saras You ask "What's the point?". The point is that this is the best way to find out if arguments are universal. There is a fairly limited range of nationalities represented on the forums, but all arguments seem to follow the same lines. The majority of people cannot follow an argument, so veer off into inconsequentialities, and a small proportion argue coherently for or against a proposition. It seems to me that the human race is quite consistenent across national boundaries. For my part, I have observed that the arguments on the forum tend to bring out the predominant viewpoint supporting a socialist view, but that the arguments that support these views are based on denying individual civil liberties to support the masses. As you implied, these views haven't necessarily changed my own, and vice versa, but I think that my debating skills are being improved - if only by osmosis. I can't wait until all the college students are back at university to join in all the debates again. I miss Octopus and Provost Harrison, in particular. Keep the faith, and don't desert the sinking ship. Noisy
Natguy	posted 07-27-99 09:17 AM ET When you say "Socialism is bad" do you mean in theory or in practice?
sandworm	posted 07-27-99 09:41 AM ET On second thought lets not go to the forum, its a silly place.
GaryD	posted 07-27-99 12:06 PM ET 2p amoral possibly, otherwise only in parts. bad at what ? not overall agreed justice or vengeance ? what did you have in mind ? no idea, didn't read it eh ? increase it. send them all to nicotine dens where they don't pollute us clean folk. no, freedom to not have any possibility to be confronted by arms instead. who cares ? certainly a global company doesn't care for you. OK, you're wrong, I'm right.
Misho	posted 07-31-99 08:05 PM ET The point is that you are boring and stupid, you Lithuanian savage. Go hunt bears. p.s. by the way I really don't trust you that you live in Litva. Maybe you are originally from that Russian province, but I think that you live in USA now. Right?