Winning forum arguements
Winning forum arguements
Author
Discussion

mutt k

Original Poster:

3,964 posts

261 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
Ted has quite rightly removed a rather offensive posting that was on the Porsche thread earlier this morning about winning arguments on internet bulletin boards.

This got me thinking, because it is obvious that some people spend a lot of time lovingly crafting their posts, then fire them off into cyberspace to no great effect, probably like this one!

I would have thought that this is a little bit like the old philosophical argument "if a tree falls in a forest, and there is no-one there to hear it fall, does it make a sound"

i.e if you win an argument on an internet bulletin board, who gives a monkey's?

anonymous-user

77 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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Can somebody keep me posted about these offensive threads.

I keep missing them and they're my favourites!

Don

28,378 posts

307 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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unrepentant said:
Can somebody keep me posted about these offensive threads.

I keep missing them and they're my favourites!



Yep. Some of them are hilarious...if deserving of removal just the same...

GingerNinja

3,982 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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There's an adage used on Fark.com that goes something like:

"Winning an argument on the internet is like winning at the Special Olympics - even if you win, you're still retarded"

sparkythecat

8,060 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
It's nice to watch and participate in well reasoned intelligent arguments.

It helps to sharpen both your writing and debating skills, which are useful in other walks of life.

It doesn't really matter who wins the argument as long as long as everyone involved is able to get across their viewpoint a convincing way.

In some ways it's better than live debate which is quite often unreasonably dominated by the one with the biggest gob, who shouts the loudest and is determined to have the last word. ( This perhaps explains why government policies are so influenced by minority interests)

I think these forums are pretty well moderated and threads seldom degenerate into gratuitous personal abuse as they do on many others, particularly US ones in my experience.

yertis

19,524 posts

289 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
You're all worse than Nazis.




Therefore I lose the argument.

Seriously, I don't think it's fair to say that if you "win" and argument on a forum it's a pointless victory. I remember a debate about hunting (which incidentally should not be banned) in which I think AlexKP forced me to think very carefully about my position. It didn't alter my views in the end, but I did look at them from a different and new perspective.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

293 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
GingerNinja said:

There's an adage used on Fark.com that goes something like:

"Winning an argument on the internet is like winning at the Special Olympics - even if you win, you're still retarded"



My favourite closing image is that...

alexkp

16,484 posts

267 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
yertis said:
You're all worse than Nazis.




Therefore I lose the argument.

Seriously, I don't think it's fair to say that if you "win" and argument on a forum it's a pointless victory. I remember a debate about hunting (which incidentally should not be banned) in which I think AlexKP forced me to think very carefully about my position. It didn't alter my views in the end, but I did look at them from a different and new perspective.



...and then went out and machine-gunned some cats...

rude-boy

22,227 posts

256 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
I didn't see it but I suspect that it had something to do with one of Olympics - something I am oft told when discussing threads with a tecnophobe mate.

To my mind I treat these things as either a place to hear the opinions of others, light entertainment and in general like a livily discussion with mates down the pub. At the end of the day win or lose the argument you have usually learnt something.

There was a thread on the other day where two of us, both who apeared to have very strongly opposing views with the requisite facts to back them up, were having a real ding dong. The odd little personal comment slipped in but on the whole it was very good natured, both agreeing to disagree and both feeling that they had learnt more about the topic and others views . Top stuff.

If you need some help or info. ask your fellow PH'ers, if you want a bit of ribbing ask PH'ers, if you want to have a spirited debate ask PH'ers. If you want to cause trouble and offend others you can Foxtrot Oscar.

All, of course, IMHO

Happy posting!

anniesdad

14,589 posts

261 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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los angeles said:

someone gets sandbagged


better than getting teabagged!!


i'll get me coat.

MilnerR

8,273 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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This forum is in the main very good. I've been on other forums where virtually every thread has descended into a school yard "you smell of poo" argument with personal attack flying in all directions.

Even when there are disagreements on here it is at least (usually) done with a little wit and panache.

Its also the first forum i've been on where there has been a police complaint made about some of the postings how hard core is that ?

anonymous-user

77 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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MilnerR said:
Its also the first forum i've been on where there has been a police complaint made about some of the postings how hard core is that ?


Yeah but it's ok now, Mungo's apologised and withdrawn his complaint.

sparkythecat

8,060 posts

278 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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los angeles said:
"Winning" is the wrong word. Seeking agreement is better, or trying to pursuade. On the other hand if you find yourself arguing with a fool or a bully who intends staying that way it's time to pull out the debate. Nothing you say will make a difference.


Or a drunk.

Never argue with a drunk.

MilnerR

8,273 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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unrepentant said:

MilnerR said:
Its also the first forum i've been on where there has been a police complaint made about some of the postings how hard core is that ?



Yeah but it's ok now, Mungo's apologised and withdrawn his complaint.



"Chief inspector? They don't show me any respect on PH! Not even with me shiny new helmet!"

pesty

42,655 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
mutt k said:
Ted has quite rightly removed a rather offensive posting that was on the Porsche thread earlier this morning about winning arguments on internet bulletin boards.


i.e if you win an argument on an internet bulletin board, who gives a monkey's?


what was that about then when some one goes off on one its usualy quite funny.


Im with who gives a toss on internet arguments. It seems to me that they are usualy missunderstandings of what other people have written anyway. The sentiment sometimes comes accross in a different way as intended when its writen down.

pesty

42,655 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
los angeles said:


rude-boy said:
All, of course, IMHO


That one always makes me laugh. Exactly what does, IMO mean? If it's not your opinion who's in hell is it? And adding the "H" as in IMHO - why post it if you feel so humble? Kinda redundant Internet phrase, I think, IMHO.



I think its way off softening what you have written and being less imflamatory. see previous post

you could write
your wrong!
or
your wrong but thats just IMO

so your wrong !!!! but thats just IMHO




>> Edited by pesty on Thursday 20th January 11:31

v8thunder

27,647 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
I thing the arguments on PH are rather more civilised than other forums - only remove them if they get truly offensive. Have you seen the typical post on a laxxer forum:

Dwayne: "My alloys r phatter than yours an your car is shit and my spoilers bigger and your girlfriends mingin"

Or worse, have you ever ventured into the depths of an AMERICAN car forum? Seriously, car brand 'loyalty' is such that people simply start a thread with all guns blazing, like this:

biggie012 - "yo what's up, this is my sweet ride y'all, she's a CADILLAC and all of you who don't like it are all pussies."

Chevman - "Yeah dude, sweet ride"

Fordfanatic - "No way, man dat ride iz ugly. U drive a caddycrap cuz your momma stinks of shit and you like shagging your dog and your brother, and I bet you're CANADIAN - fing commie!"

biggie012 - "Fordfanatic u hush ya mouth or I'll bring my hood down on ya head. U drive a Ford and if I see ya I'll tear ya face off with a tire iron"

AMCdude - "Hey guys"

Chevman - "Piss off you mothering son-of-a-bitch. I bet your still a virgin with ya granny-wagon dat couldn't blow the doors off of a RICER!"

AMCdude - "Actually I've got a Ferrari"

Chevman - "I am going to kill your family"

biggie012 "I'll join ya there are too many pussies on dis web site yo"

Sanfranboy - "Hey guys, there seem to be a lotta HATERS on this thread"

biggie012 - "Dis guy owns a fiero - let's kill the fag"

Chevman - "yeah, this country ain't for fags"

Fordfanatic - "Can I join in"

Chevman - "Fk off, dead man"

And so on. Check out cardomain.com if you don't believe me, and check out some of the threads leading from the more controversial/boring cars to see what I mean.

pesty

42,655 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
Well LA If you put IMO on the end then no it wont offend me.

Anyway if you wrote that I would have to agree with you


pesty

42,655 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
See im always right!! I even answer you before you post

rpguk

4,510 posts

307 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
quotequote all
v8thunder said:
I thing the arguments on PH are rather more civilised than other forums - only remove them if they get truly offensive. Have you seen the typical post on a laxxer forum:

Dwayne: "My alloys r phatter than yours an your car is shit and my spoilers bigger and your girlfriends mingin"

Or worse, have you ever ventured into the depths of an AMERICAN car forum? Seriously, car brand 'loyalty' is such that people simply start a thread with all guns blazing, like this:

biggie012 - "yo what's up, this is my sweet ride y'all, she's a CADILLAC and all of you who don't like it are all pussies."

Chevman - "Yeah dude, sweet ride"

Fordfanatic - "No way, man dat ride iz ugly. U drive a caddycrap cuz your momma stinks of shit and you like shagging your dog and your brother, and I bet you're CANADIAN - fing commie!"

biggie012 - "Fordfanatic u hush ya mouth or I'll bring my hood down on ya head. U drive a Ford and if I see ya I'll tear ya face off with a tire iron"

AMCdude - "Hey guys"

Chevman - "Piss off you mothering son-of-a-bitch. I bet your still a virgin with ya granny-wagon dat couldn't blow the doors off of a RICER!"

AMCdude - "Actually I've got a Ferrari"

Chevman - "I am going to kill your family"

biggie012 "I'll join ya there are too many pussies on dis web site yo"

Sanfranboy - "Hey guys, there seem to be a lotta HATERS on this thread"

biggie012 - "Dis guy owns a fiero - let's kill the fag"

Chevman - "yeah, this country ain't for fags"

Fordfanatic - "Can I join in"

Chevman - "Fk off, dead man"

And so on. Check out cardomain.com if you don't believe me, and check out some of the threads leading from the more controversial/boring cars to see what I mean.



Is that a copy and paste or did you get a little too into making up that conversation

>> Edited by rpguk on Thursday 20th January 11:46