Discussing politics and other contentious sunjects online feels to me like it’s counterproductive these days and even though I try not to get suckered in, I often can’t help myself. Usually though I just end up feeling frustrated and sometimes angry at the other person either missing my points or refusing to accept them.

Thinking back to conversations I’ve had here and previously on Reddit, not only can I not remember an example of me “winning” the discussion and the other person changing their mind or conceding the point, I also cannot think of a time where my mind was changed either.

So have you ever begun a discussion online with someone with a different view point to yours and either you, or they, changed the others mind?

  • neidu4@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    No. Possibly because I have never really tried to, after realizing that:

    1. People entering said debates are mostly just there to win an argument.
    2. I am under no obligation to convince them that their beliefs are utterly stupid

    Those who hold stupid positions aren’t really the ones with a mind open enough to the position that they might in fact be in the wrong. Plus, I don’t have the capacity for bullshit that such an endeavor requires.

    I have long since concluded that people will not only hold stupid beliefs, but desperately cling to them and consider me not having the fortitude to put up with all the fallacies that follows as a sign that they’re right.

    I don’t really have an audience, and I therefore don’t feel like entering a debate, because debates to me seem mostly performative in an effort to gather soundbites and/or screenshots.

    I’m sure you (yes, you reading this) have plenty of positions I find utterly idiotic, but I frankly don’t think I’m the one who will be able to convince you. I can’t educate the world, the world needs to converge on that on its own.