Why does everyone need so much to be offended? Is this debate?

1. 56

   wesleyacarterposted 14 years ago

   There is a strain of hubbers that seem to be out to argue instead of debate. To call one an idiot for having a different point of view. To defend against real questions with semantics. To speak as fools disguised by verbal acrobatics and mental gymnastics.
   
   Why do people need so much to be offended? to be attracted to drama?

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      wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      i should have avoided the word "everyone".

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         Star Witnessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

           Wesley...if you were talking about Allan B. last night...I think he's a teacher and is approaching some here (and some could use it, too) in that fashion.  That's why I said that thing about 'not all will be found to be students.'
         
         You explained yourself well afterward and clearly (to me) are not approaching expression in a dishonest way.  But sometimes our "words misunderstand us."

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            Mikel G Robertsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            nicely said.

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      XTASISposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      don't you know Psychology ?

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         logic,commonsenseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Is she a Greek siren?

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   3. 58

      Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Who called you an idiot?

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         wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         my mom

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            Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            She would know.

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               wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               i guess you would too, huh?

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                  Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  LOL
                  
                  So, is this the five minute argument or the full half hour?
                  
                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMlv3ripSM

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                     wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     pure. f---in. genius.

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                     cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     
                     
                     
                     
                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcbu_kGsFOQ

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            baconmidgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            LMAO

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   4. 59

      kateperezposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I know that there are methods and rules to "debate" and if you are choosing to just show ignorance in a retort then it will not be appreciated.
      
      This is a good thought.

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   5. 59

      Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Argument is debate, no?  One person presents argument, other person provides an alternative argument.  That is debate.

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         wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         well argument is a little different debate. it is mainly to destroy or disprove the other's point of view, while debate is not so hostile, i think. but yes, they are very similar concepts.
         
         in debate, the other person is regarded as intelligent - in argument, an idiot.

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            Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            An argument is an individual activity.  I see the point you are getting at but it is not a matter of argument.

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      relacheposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Welcome to the Internet.

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   7. 0

      blackorchidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am sure they have their idiotic reasons or arrogance, but I am going to ignore the ones I have already witnessed and move on. Thanks.

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2. 0

   Crazdwriterposted 14 years ago

   Today on As The Hubpages Turn

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      kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      To True!

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      baconmidgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      LMAO

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3. 91

   habeeposted 14 years ago

   Wes, I have asked this same question before. I enjoy a good debate, one where each side repsects the other's opinions, even when they don't agree. There's no  place for name-calling and personal insults.
   
   I'm a moderate conservative from the South, and one of my closest friends in the world is a Northern liberal. We debate politics for hours, with neither of us getting angry. We always find that we can find some common ground as Americans.

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      wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You say Northern liberal like it is a bad thing.
      

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         baconmidgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         

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            atilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            

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      2. 91

         habeeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Funny, Jen! I'm not saying it's a bad thing - just trying to illustrate how different Sandy and I are!

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            wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I know, just teasing.
            
            I have a close friend who is constantly challenging me about religion. She does not seem to understand how I (or anyone) could possibly be a non-believer. We go at it pretty heavy sometimes.
            But, we both know that religion is only one part of who a person is. Even though we don't pull punches, we don't ever seem to get each other upset about it.
            We don't do the whole "agree to disagree" thing either. It just is what it is.
            
            I think "offended" is something that people choose to be.

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4. 80

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   Unfortunately, true debate does not take place on this forum

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      atilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I beg to differ

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      sandra rinckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      use to though

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         Uninvited Writerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I know, now it's just deflection and reiteration or "I'm right and you're stupid".

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            sandra rinckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, and I have also gotten caught up in it.    Being antagonized to the point of retaliation if you will.

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5. 0

   Poppa Bluesposted 14 years ago

   Because people are passionate about their beliefs and often facts can be evasive, truths manipulated, and arguments then are nothing more than one's beliefs. When you attack one's beliefs it's as if you are attacking them personally and so debate breaks down.

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   dyonderposted 14 years ago

   http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ego

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      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      

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      avangendposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Indeed. When one wrap his entire personality around an opinion - as well as around the idea of converting everyone else to that opinion - he has no room for emotional leeway should someone contradict him. Instead of being able to take a non-congruent comment as, "I disagree," they are forced to take it as "I think you are a complete idiot." Low self esteem = low quality debates.
      
      Hence, the "trolls" you find prowling around this site are, more often than not, trying to defend issues that are not only important to them, but have, in a sense, become them (i.e., political parties, race, religion, etc.)
      Those are my thoughts, anyway.

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7. 59

   Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

   Two people can debate, one person can dispute the argument of another, that can be part of a debate.
   
   When it gets personal and individuals are attacked like you are saying, it is just poor argument.

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      wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      haha okay Bovine. semantics. you win

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         Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I did not win anything, I am not competing.

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            wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            haha i'm just conceding man. it's okay.

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               Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               It is OK.  You can concede if you like but I still did not win.  I am not competing

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                  wesleyacarterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  sure man. your world, i'm just living in it.

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                     Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     You can't live in my world.  Door is closed, nobody invited

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8. 59

   Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

   Call it what you like, an argument is what it is.
   
   Have a look at this if you like,
   
   I am not attacking you, I hope you do not see it that way.
   
   http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/main.html

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9. 75

   barryrutherfordposted 14 years ago

   Similar to having differing views people have different standards of discourse.  To debate or present arguments in a coherent way requires practice and   a set of proper debating rules which people follow.  Techniques for sophisticated exchange of views need to be practiced in an academic like way.
   
   Here you have a variety bag of sweets whom we call hubers who we know little about other than mainly a non-descript Avatar and a set of posts which may or may not have been written by them.
   When that is all you have you can expect little more...

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      Friendlywordposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I thought the forums were for plain old people to have discussions with each other. A debate with rules is not possible here. I for one, am not going to do research for week, preapare talking points, and notes and ... you see what I mean.  I actually like to mix it up here on the forums. There havent been too many really serious topics lately.

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      avangendposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you on that. The minute logic is set aside to make way for unsupported opinion and emotional rants, the productivity of a debate vanishes. See also: Facebook, YouTube comments, etc.

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10. 75

    barryrutherfordposted 14 years ago

    Freindlyword.
    
    Well I guess they are for plain oold & young people to have discussions but as I have said you get a variety of ppeople with varying levels of communications skills some people cannot give a sentence without being offensive others would never be offensive no matter how hard you pushed them
    
    What do you mean when you say you like to mix it up on the forums.  Mix what up ?

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       Ghost32posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Barry, I'll play straight man here just in case you really don't know:  "Mix it up" is another way of saying "scuffle", or maybe "barfight", or just plain "mud wrestling". 

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11. 75

    barryrutherfordposted 14 years ago

    Thanks !  Ghost32
    
    another metaphor to add to the list of unknown knowns !
    
    
    
    
    By the way do you know what happened to the man who stole a Calendar at Christmas?
    
    
    
    He got 12 month's !

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       blackorchidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       

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