Why I Try Not to Get Into Online Debates Anymore

[jamesq]

From a column in the Seattle Times:

If you and I had an argument and I produced facts from an authoritative source to back me up, you couldn't just blow that off. You might try to undermine my facts, might counter with facts of your own, but you couldn't just pretend my facts had no weight or meaning.

Sadly, this is a standard tactic these days. I've encountered it in the media, online and also in my personal life.

Comments

[wee-megan.livejournal.com]

A fabulous article. Thanks for sharing. I couldn't agree more after reading some comments on a youtube video I recently watched. The *plugs ears* "nanananana, I can't hear you!" argument is so childish yet so overused these days. It can be very frustrating to be on the other side of a "debate" as someone using this tactic.