Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yingwenlaoshi]

[joshuahirtle27]

[Nowhere Man]

1) Move to CE

One long-term poster described it as "the land of the walking dead". If you want an argument, it's there, available to you 24/7 365. OT has a lot of people hanging out and being social. I have no problem with that, but it's not a good place to be all contrary.

2) Assess your level of conviction/interest

There are lots of good arguments that happen on OT, but frequently people are ready to fight to the death about their favorite Pop-tart (TM) flavor. How sure are you about what you're going to argue?

3) Back it up

If you are indeed arguing, you link to your sources. It's worth mentioning that your sources may be shiite, but at least others can see where you're arguing from, and you're not just arguing with your opponent. You never know when someone else is going to join in. But, keep in mind that having a source on the internet is far from "proof" of anything.

Unless it's extremely original, whatever you say can probably be backed up somewhere on the net. Then, it becomes a matter of assessment.

4) Be able to explain a bad argument

"You just don't get it!"/"You got nothing!" means that you just don't get it and have nothing if you think simply stating that counts. You need to be able to explain why someone doesn't get it or has nothing. "Go back and read" is another generally weak argument. It's the internet. Just post it again.

Finally, logical fallacies are a valuable source that can differrentiate between a lunch-room encounter and a serious debate. Know straw men and ad hominems.

5) Be able to admit when you're wrong.

If you're serious about arguing, you WILL be wrong at some point. Sometimes, an apology ( or at least admission of wrong) is in order. You can't win them all. Some people make absolute asses of themselves rather than simply acknowledging that anything they've said is incorrect. This bit is typically accompanied by profuse and extreme derision directed at the venue as a whole. If you're too good or above for the forum, then don't bother posting here. Find others of your caliber to exchange barbs with.

6) Don't take it too seriously

Fight an asshole, become an asshole. This was Henry Rollins summations in the "Human Butt". Like 5 above, you essentially lower yourself to whatever arguments you're going to entertain. You stand the risk of looking like a jerk just for taking up the gauntlet. Does this bother you? Decide beforehand.

[thewindsong123]

ad hominin for thewin.

[VanIslander]

[laogaiguk]