PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: HOW TO ARGUE IN A PUBLIC FORUM
A polite argument goes like this:
OP: I have an opinion that is probably wrong but I can’t experience things outside of my own body!
YOU: I disagree with you, because of reasons 1, 2, and 3. I have experience in the subject your dumb self is raging about. Allow me to enlighten you.
OP: I see your side, and the reason that I feel the way I do is *monkey farting noises… insert important points or something*
YOU: I respect your right to have a stupid opinion, and we’re still friends. A stupid post on social media did not end our friendship.
A polite argument does not go like this:
OP: I have a stupid opinion but I am also a human and have access to social media. Hear me!
YOU: TACTICAL NUKE! *BOOM* CONFRONTATION MISSLES OF DOOM! *BOOMBOOM* YOU JUDGE EVERYONE YOU SHOULD JUST POST PICTURES OF CATS AND MEMES ABOUT NOTHING! *KABOOMBOOMBOOM* I AM GOING TO TURN YOUR COMMENTS SECTION INTO A CIRCUS BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CALMLY STATE MY OPINION, WHICH IS A PROBLEM IN POLITE SOCIETY! *CRUISEMISSLEFINISHBLAMBLAMBLAMMUSHROOMCLOUD*
There is a right way to do things, and there is a wrong way to do things. I do not entertain confrontation and “taking a stand” against some stupid post I put on here. There are people dying in the world. Hunger, disease, AIDS, all killing people. If you’re really that eager to stand up to something, at least help someone. If you just HAVE to take a stand against someone’s dumb post, be productive about it. Be respectful. Hostility is something almost no one responds positively to. Change does not come from it. No one learns from it. This is reality, not some after school special where everyone learns from being told how it is.
