Should you argue on social media?

[Lamb]

Should you argue with others on a social media post that someone else made? Could be about politics, religion, food, family...etc

 

[Castle Church]

Usually no. Only very rarely have I seen anyone change their point of view on a given topic online. The best we can generally aim for is understanding, which is not often how people aim to interact online.

 

[tango]

Remember the kid in class who ate paste? That's probably who you're arguing with.

Phrases like "pearls before swine" come to mind. Social media isn't usually a place to have a useful discussion about anything.

 

[Lees]

Should you argue with others on a social media post that someone else made? Could be about politics, religion, food, family...etc

I don't understand why not. Debate has always been a part of society. If one is willing to go public with a political or religious view, then they should expect pushback from others of a different opinion.

As a wise teacher once told his class, if your position can be shaken, then it needs to be shaken.

Of course, seldom, if ever, will you see those involved in the debate change their mind. Or at least admit to it. But others read the posts who don't participate in the arguing and you never know how you may impact them.

(Acts 17:16-21)

Lees

 

[tango]

I don't understand why not. Debate has always been a part of society. If one is willing to go public with a political or religious view, then they should expect pushback from others of a different opinion.

As a wise teacher once told his class, if your position can be shaken, then it needs to be shaken.

Of course, seldom, if ever, will you see those involved in the debate change their mind. Or at least admit to it. But others read the posts who don't participate in the arguing and you never know how you may impact them.

(Acts 17:16-21)

Lees

Debate should be part of society. The thing with social media is that the people who post an opinion usually don't want a discussion on the merits of their opinion or other opposing opinions, it's just a way of saying "this is what I think, end of story". Turning things into memes is a convenient way of implying that a situation is so clear-cut that there's the right way of thinking (which is my way, obviously) and any other way must be idiotic because the meme makes it all so clear.

 

[Lees]

Y

Debate should be part of society. The thing with social media is that the people who post an opinion usually don't want a discussion on the merits of their opinion or other opposing opinions, it's just a way of saying "this is what I think, end of story". Turning things into memes is a convenient way of implying that a situation is so clear-cut that there's the right way of thinking (which is my way, obviously) and any other way must be idiotic because the meme makes it all so clear.

Yes, everyone has an opinion. And it's easy and cheap to sound off ones opinion. But what the social media ignores, is that an opinion by itself carries no merit. It carries no weight or credibility just because one has one.

If one has an opinion but refuses to debate it, then they are saying they don't know what they are talking about, and they know it. Which begs the question, why present an opinion when one lacks the knowledge to support it?

Nothing wrong with submitting an opinion and be willing to discuss and debate it. There is something wrong with submitting an opinion and not be open to debate.

My opinion.

Lees

 

[tango]

Y


Yes, everyone has an opinion. And it's easy and cheap to sound off ones opinion. But what the social media ignores, is that an opinion by itself carries no merit. It carries no weight or credibility just because one has one.

If one has an opinion but refuses to debate it, then they are saying they don't know what they are talking about, and they know it. Which begs the question, why present an opinion when one lacks the knowledge to support it?

Nothing wrong with submitting an opinion and be willing to discuss and debate it. There is something wrong with submitting an opinion and not be open to debate.

My opinion.

Lees

It depends on the purpose in posting.

It's one thing to say "here's an opinion, I'd be interested to hear what others think" with a view to engaging the pros and cons of different viewpoints. It's another thing entirely to say "here's an opinion - it's to demonstrate that I'm on the right side of whatever today's issue is". If you're virtue signalling there's no point engaging because someone with a different viewpoint clearly lacks even the basic virtue to hold the correct viewpoint.

A lot of the political memes that float around social media appear to be little more than the latter case, turning a complex issue into a simple one-liner that conveniently divides the world into people on the right side (like me, obviously) and people on the wrong side (anyone who can't see how simple it is, when reduced to a meme and is stupid enough to disagree with something so obvious).

My experience has often been that even people I know personally and know to be intelligent have a depressing tendency to reduce issues, particularly political issues, into simplistic one-liners and then dodge the issue when asked relatively simple questions.

 

[psalms 91]

I agree with everyone who said no, no point.

 

[Lees]

I agree with everyone who said no, no point.

Which means to me, neither the original post means nothing. Nor does the opinion of one who says, no point in addressing.

Does anyone really believe what they post?

Why post anything if you have no conviction that you are right? And if you have conviction that you are right, why not be willing to debate it?

Perhaps people just like to hear themselves talk, as though that is important.

Lees

 

[tango]

Which means to me, neither the original post means nothing. Nor does the opinion of one who says, no point in addressing.

Does anyone really believe what they post?

Why post anything if you have no conviction that you are right? And if you have conviction that you are right, why not be willing to debate it?

Perhaps people just like to hear themselves talk, as though that is important.

Lees

On social media I think that's a large part of it. It's not about an opinion you can necessarily support, it's about virtue signalling to show you believe all the right things. Bonus points if showing you believe the right things costs you nothing at all. You know, like the people who "stand with refugees" as long as they don't have to, you know, actually do anything to help refugees. They have a spare room they could use to house a refugee, they have spare money they could give to feed refugees, but it's easier and cheaper to simply update their Facebook profile picture to show the same generic "I stand with refugees" banner that everyone else and their dog is using.

What are they actually doing to help refugees? Well, they've updated their profile picture to show their support, what more do you want? And if you try to point out that some refugees are genuinely fleeing a truly evil regime, some are seeking free handouts and some are trying to infiltrate societies stupid enough to let them in, you can be written off as a hater because you clearly don't care about the first group. As I'm sure you know, most issues can be turned into a meme which makes all the complex nuances go away and splits everybody into two camps - the people who agree with me and the people who are wrong.

 

[Albion]

Generally speaking, no. The object of the forum (and the meaning of the word itself) is an exchange of ideas. Just the same, a sensible reply, even a critical one, is different from a series of back-and-forth posts intended mainly to get in the last word.

 

[Stravinsk]

One of the key differences between social media and a forum like this is - social media profiles are often (not always) about people who use their actual names. Whereas on a forum like this, folks often choose a screen name or handle for privacy.

This difference does effect what might be said and how it might be reacted to. On my social media, I'm careful, but I don't lie or deceive. Often if I come across something I don't like/agree with, I simply ignore it. Sometimes I might say something contrary if I think there's a chance that the person could possibly be receptive to it. And sometimes, things go too far and there are social consequences. Like being blocked. Or losing a friend. Not that that is always bad, since I no longer am tempted to look at their opinions.

 

[The Jason]

A lot of people can't take other opinions. They are just on there to post their opinion cause they get off on it. But, I guess, nothing wrong with that, depending on certain things.