I don’t argue or “debate” online. Most online back-and-forth feels pointless and often intentionally inflammatory or in bad faith. I read all the replies I receive, but I rarely respond.
everything’s made up and the points don’t matter.
What do you mean you dont argue or “debate” online? Whats that supossed to mean? YOU THINK YOU’RE BETTER THAN ME?!"
Get mad at everyone. Take it all seriously. If you stop caring deeply you lose.
Lurk first, then respond. You might find more context in the replies.
I like good faith, polite discussion and debate. Unfortunately, everyone wants to dominate or win and few will make a concession that they might have been wrong, even if you’re using the gentlest of hands.
Block any and all advertising at all times.
I genuinely can’t figure out why there are so many people who are happy to let adverts fill their day. Or at the very least, don’t really notice it.
I had a shit fit today because I worked out that the Lidl app won’t let me use its payment system if I turn off notifications, which I did because Herr Lidl dared to send me an advert for whatever shit he’s selling this week - as a fucking notification! That’s one advert. I got the hump over one advert.
But there are vast swathes of people who just don’t seem to care how clogged their browsing experience is.
Goddamned right. There were several years when I’d let it go, because Netflix and the like were providing a good, fairly priced service. When they finally gave me the fuck you, I cancelled it on my 10th anniversary as a customer, along with every other streaming service. Took me a minute to get back in the swing, but the salty sea air is so nice again.
I (try to) only interact with positivity.
If someone posts a thread along the lines of “Which album/movie/book/whatever do you hate, even though every one else loves it”, I’ll scroll on, despite my worst instincts wanting to dive in to see if people hate something I love. I know why people post like that; because engagement on negatvity is always higher. But I feel like every time I engage with content like that, it makes me a little more cynical. I’m done being cynical, the world around me has more than enough already.
If someone pops up in my replies being a dick, I’ll just mute, block or ignore them. Life’s too short to spend it trying to lower cortisol levels.
Basically, the internet is already negative enough, so I try not to add to it.
Assume someday someone will find your account or identity.
Assume everything you post is gonna be there forever.
Corollary: Don’t assume you’ll have access to your accounts forever.
- Be positive
- Don’t let anything negative get to you
- It’s not my duty to convince anyone. If they hold a stupid position, don’t try to debate
- when making conversation, bail once they start treating it as an argument they need to win
- OPs mom is fair game
Debates go two ways. If you’re not willing to listen to the other person with at least some politeness, you’re not debating and it makes it hard to take you seriously.
I’m almost the exact opposite. I like arguing online. I think it’s because of me being gigantic IRL that people don’t honestly argue with me. Online, I’m just pixels on a screen and people will call me out on my bullshit.
Different strokes for different folk.
My one rule is to post pictures of Furryosa if she claws me that day.
Same, but I’m not gigantic and I also love to “argue” IRL. It’s easier IRL too, because people can feel your good vibes and friendly disposition and will more comfortably engage even through disagreements.
Name checks out and I’m also immediately curious to ask about it 😆
Believing in God and yapping/arguing are big parts of my life. 🤷😅
Same as life: Respect yourself. Respect others. Respect property.
I just treat others how I want to be treated. Like I’d never say something I wouldn’t say to someone face to face, just because it’s the internet.
This backfires a lot because other people don’t want to be treated like you do.
That’s why there’s the platinum rule. Treat people as though they’re following the golden rule, and thus treat them as they’re treating others.
To quote Professor Farnsworth from the recent season of Futurama…
Fortune Teller Bot: Many people believe in a Heaven, yet you do not call them crazy.
Professor Farnsworth: Yes I do! To their faces, and behind their backs I’m even ruder!
Turn off JavaScript by default, and then allow JS through piecemeal using an extension like NoScript. You’d be surprised how much of the internet is still accessible and cleaned up without it, and when you do let JS through, you have a good idea of who’s collecting your data and even a good guess as to why.
