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[Baraka in the White House]

a person clearly knows their shit and makes points that are correct - or at least worth considering - but is such an abrasive dick about it that you feel dirty for agreeing with them? Ever taken a side for or against an issue out of spite, or at least felt that instinctual tug in the back of your brain telling you, "This person is an asshole, do the opposite of what he/she says!"?

This is a rather common phenomenon I've encountered since I joined GAF, and though it can be incredibly frustrating sometimes I have to credit this place for making it easier for me to divorce one's attitude from their arguments and, generally, walk away a more informed person.

Shit ain't easy, though.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

 

[Devolution]

Forums in a nutshell really.

 

[that1dude24]

no never

 

[HiResDes]

Listen to more Swans

 

[CrankyJay]

a person clearly knows their shit and makes points that are correct - or at least worth considering - but is such an abrasive dick about it that you feel dirty for agreeing with them? Ever taken a side for or against an issue out of spite, or at least felt that instinctual tug in the back of your brain telling you, "This person is an asshole, do the opposite of what he/she says!"?

This is a rather common phenomenon I've encountered since I joined GAF, and though it can be incredibly frustrating sometimes I have to credit this place for making it easier for me to divorce one's attitude from their arguments and, generally, walk away a more informed person.

Shit ain't easy, though.

Yeah, Raistlin...when it comes to consumer electronics. And I've pointed this out to him on numerous occasions. =)

 

[Kapura]

only when i read over my own points. that's how I know I've done it right.

 

[Ultima_5]

I almost always take sides based on spite.

 

[Satch]

no

 

[balddemon]

Yeah it has happened and I do it a lot too lol

 

[I H8 Memes]

Forums in a nutshell really.

We need to enhance this image and see what is being reflected in the lenses. I bet it's a google street view of Timedogs house.

 

[Juicy Bob]

Most debates I read about atheism. There are a lot of atheists who come across as really unpleasant whenever the subject of God comes up and it puts me right off the whole sorry mess. And I'm an atheist.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

 

[iNvid02]

i side with whoever i suspect has the biggest cock

i tend to agree with myself a lot

 

[FreeMufasa]

Real life yes. Not on forums though. I swore of internet arguing around 6 years ago.

 

[Chiave]

I real life. Not on forums though.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

I've had this issue with people on GAF, actually.

And people have probably had this issue with me.

Sucks, but it'll happen in life, as well.

 

[greycolumbus]

Nah, I like assholes. Especially when they're right.

 

[slider]

Yeah, Raistlin...when it comes to consumer electronics. And I've pointed this out to him on numerous occasions. =)

I just saw your reply to him in the CES thread, hehe.

I find him to be a gentlman and a scholar. In other words quite pleasant and very knowledgeable.

EDIT: Sony OLED thread... http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=34108503&postcount=214

 

[Ultima_5]

Most debates I read about atheism. There are a lot of atheists who come across as really unpleasant whenever the subject of God comes up and it puts me right off the whole sorry mess. And I'm an atheist.

Same here. The really radical ones are just as bad if not worse than extremely radical religious people. To much of anything is a bad thing.

 

[Dark Octave]

THIS IS NEOGAF!

 

[Lionel Mandrake]

 

[Pinko Marx]

THIS IS NEOGAF!

I don't believe you, prove it.

 

[Ultima_5]

I don't believe you, prove it.

Sometimes you just gotta believe

 

[Wimps]

In real life, fuck yes. Quite alot as well.

Forums, would say I don't but I kind of do sometimes.

 

[ReBurn]

I almost always take sides based on spite.

Me, too!

 

[Baraka in the White House]

Most debates I read about atheism. There are a lot of atheists who come across as really unpleasant whenever the subject of God comes up and it puts me right off the whole sorry mess. And I'm an atheist.

Same, there's definitely some pricks among athiest GAF that make for terrible representatives, though after visiting relevant threads on the subject I almost can't blame them as arguing with dedicated theists can be frustrating.

 

[Kuro Madoushi]

I think it more has to do with people spouting shit they know nothing about to someone who does know who then cites references and gets pissed the others disregard it or make retarded excuses.

Then there are some people who just don't want to admit being wrong. And others accuse people of reading too much. I swear...been on this forum years now and I never thought I would ever have someone tell me I read too much...

 

[The Technomancer]

Yeah, a lot of times in religion debates I find myself rationally on the atheist side but very uncomfortable when they drop lines like "Christians are morons"

 

[way more]

I think smart people have a right to be insulting to the irrational and factually incorrect.

 

[The Technomancer]

I think smart people have a right to be insulting to the irrational and factually incorrect.

Why? Insults generally don't help convince the other side of their incorrectness, they usually have the opposite effect. Insults only make sense if your goal isn't convincing the other side, but just feeling good about your position.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

I think smart people have a right to be insulting to the irrational and factually incorrect.

I dunno, I feel that usually just hurts the argument.

If what the other person is saying is so ludicrous and silly (like BurntPork), go nuts. But if you're just arguing about, like, preferences and shit, then it just makes your argument look so weak that you need to bolster it with insults.

 

[Baraka in the White House]

Yeah, a lot of times in religion debates I find myself rationally on the atheist side but very uncomfortable when they drop lines like "Christians are morons"

Athiest-GAF and PC-GAF are usually the two topics where I run into this situation the most. I credit PC-GAF for getting me interested in PC gaming again but I still disagree that's it's unequivocally the best way to game and that puts me at odds with some of the more dickheaded fans on here, even when they're usually right on many subjects.

 

[Pinko Marx]

I think smart people have a right to be insulting to the irrational and factually incorrect.

No one likes a smartass that thinks he superior to others.

 

[Timedog]

what if instead of coming off as a smug dickhead, you try voicing your argument with wonder and excitement. There are other ways to be passionate about something!

 

[Tawney Bomb]

If it's a factual argument and they know the facts, I'll concede. If it's an opinion based argument, I generally just try to mock them until they stop arguing.

 

[faceless007]

Human psychology is such that people are unwilling to accept new points of view or contrary evidence if they are made to feel defensive or condescended to at all. Good or bad, that's the way we work. So if someone is being a dick in an argument, they're obviously not actually interested in changing anyone's mind or winning someone over, they just want to feel superior.

 

[Amir0x]

Athiest-GAF and PC-GAF are usually the two topics where I run into this situation the most. I credit PC-GAF for getting me interested in PC gaming again but I still disagree that's it's unequivocally the best way to game and that puts me at odds with some of the more dickheaded fans on here, even when they're usually right on many subjects.

I'm unsure how there is any argument that it isn't unequivocally the best way to game. Mods, best settings for everything, endlessly upgradable, most customization options. There are even tons of emulators that even make some CONSOLES best played through PC (I'm looking at you, Wii).

Is there an actual plausible argument that any other way to game is better? I've heard "it's expensive" (discredited elsewhere in the $500 challenge) and "computers are difficult to troubleshoot" (maybe, but, I've had no problems and this is the first PC I've ever built. I can't imagine others would find it more difficult, I'm not even particularly technically inclined).

 

[Raistlin]

I get the feeling many of my comments come off that way

 

[To Far Away Times]

Yeah, a lot of times in religion debates I find myself rationally on the atheist side but very uncomfortable when they drop lines like "Christians are morons"

It can be very frustrating when one side is backing up all their arguments with facts and research and the other side just says everything has to line up with what's written in the bible or its wrong.

 

[Esch]

Listen to more Swans

GREAT band.

 

[WanderingWind]

All the time here. I'm guilty of it too, I'm sure.

 

[Amir0x]

It can be very frustrating when one side is backing up all their arguments with facts and research and the other side just says everything has to line up with what's written in the bible or its wrong.

There's always a false equivalency with some people about atheism vs. theism. They think if atheist are being 'aggressive', it's just as bad as if theist are aggressive about their point of view. But one is almost always based on scientific truths and rational reasoning and the other is based on thin air; spiritual faith is not the equivalent of facts.

They may both be annoying to some people, but they're not equal.

That said obviously you won't win an argument if all you're doing is spouting insults. But I admit I do find it amusing (if not a bit pitiable) how much theists must contort to keep their beliefs in shape, given the hundreds of thousands of inconsistencies in their holy books. I was there though as a child. I just feel sorry for them. I was from a hardcore religious background, so I know what it means to lose ones faith.

 

[way more]

No one likes a smartass that thinks he superior to others.

I do. It's cathartic to see some dull-headed zealot get flustered and insulted when facts, science and evidence don't suit them.

 

[Stet]

whoa, did the bruins score!?

Oh, also the answer to the thread is yes and the situation is almost universally atheism.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

There are quite a few people like this on GAF, but I won't name any names. In my final years of college (high school for Americans, year 11/12) there was a guy who was the embodiment of this. Everything he said came out with a thick layer of condescension and douchebaggery, unless you were one of the few people he respected (which I was). He was fine when it was just us having a conversation, but if anybody else got involved, it went downhill fast, and I wanted to punch him so hard.

 

[Archurro]

i side with whoever i suspect has the biggest cock

i tend to agree with myself a lot

So do you only argue with females?

 

[Dark Octave]

I do. It's cathartic to see some dull-headed zealot get flustered and insulted when facts, science and evidence don't suit them.

Keyboard security allows people to show their asses where they would never dream of in person.

 

[rdrr gnr]

No. I'll usually just refrain from contributing/quoting directly.

It's a little odd in the religious threads given how easy it is to conflate those who vehemently oppose the taboo of discussing religion in a negative light with those who just want to decrease and derail the level of discourse.

I feel as though I can be abrasive on occasion, but, of course, it's hard to self-assess.

 

[shanshan310]

Yes, unfortunately. And then I end up convincing myself of it.