Markinsa Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 150 Years Ago, a Philosopher Showed Why It’s Pointless to Start Arguments on the Internet Wildly inaccurate facts and spurious arguments are unavoidable features of social media. Yet no matter how infuriatingly wrong someone is, or just how much counter-evidence you have at your disposal, starting arguments on the internet rarely gets anyone to change their mind. Nearly a century-and-a-half ago, British philosopher John Stuart Mill explained, in a few clear sentences, why certain arguments simply won’t go anywhere. As historian Robert Saunders notes, Mill’s analysis neatly applies to heated and futile internet debates. Mill highlights the often overlooked reality that many opinions aren’t based on facts at all, but feelings. And so, contradictory points of information don’t shift emotionally rooted arguments, but only cause people to dig deeper into their emotions to hold onto those views. Intuitively, most people recognize that emotions motivate opinions, and behave accordingly. We use rhetorical techniques, such as verbal flourishes and confident mannerisms, to help convince others of our views. And we know that angry reactions to, for example, evidence showing that children of same-sex parents fare just as well as those raised by heterosexual parents, are grounded in emotional prejudice rather than a deep-seated desire for the facts. Studies reinforce these instincts about the importance of emotions. For example, patients who have brain damage in areas responsible for processing emotions also struggle to make decisions (pdf), pointing to the importance of emotions in deciding between two options. And chartered psychologist Rob Yeung, whose book How to Stand Out emphasizes the effectiveness of emotions, rather than logic, in convincing others to agree with you, points to research showing that use of metaphors motivate people to make decisions. Online, when we can’t see others’ faces or their moods, it’s easy to lose sight of these emotional instincts. Instead of engaging with and respecting others’ feelings, there can be a tendency to bombard those with opposing views with “facts.” But even seemingly solid points of information, such as the periodic table, are often grounded in subjective perspectives; a broad philosophical theory called “social constructivism” argues that facts are always a reflection of socially constructed values. There are often multiple ways of interpreting a single point of information and so, much though some people might like to think they’re right about everything, there are surprisingly few issues to which there’s an unequivocally correct opinion. Perhaps there’s little hope of convincing others on the internet to change their minds. But, as Saunders notes, Mill does point to another approach. Instead of seeking to convince others, we can be open to changing our own minds, and seek out information that contradicts our own steadfast point of view. Maybe it’ll turn out that those who disagree with you actually have a solid grasp of the facts. There’s a slight possibility that, after all, you’re the one who’s wrong. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nstoolman1 Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 I read that and after thinking about it I have decided I am not wrong. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markinsa Posted February 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 3 hours ago, nstoolman1 said: I read that and after thinking about it I have decided I am not wrong. So tell me how you really "feel". 1 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nstoolman1 Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 8 hours ago, Markinsa said: So tell me how you really "feel". With my fingers, like everyone else. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonangler Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 That is so intelligent... No it's not. Yes it is. No it is not... Yes it is.... And so it goes..... B/A 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nstoolman1 Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, Markinsa said: So tell me how you really "feel". Who negged this and why? I am not upset with his comment. Edited February 16, 2020 by nstoolman1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markinsa Posted February 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 2 hours ago, nstoolman1 said: Who negged this and why? I am not upset with his comment. I know who it is and it wasn't anything I said. I don't want to say anymore than that. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbertino Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, nstoolman1 said: Who negged this and why? I am not upset with his comment. Maybe the crazy negger....He / she is on a roll today......And every day...... Edited February 16, 2020 by umbertino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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