4 ms·

>It's childish to feel challenged when someone else has a differing opinion. I am not objecting to differing opinions, or confrontation. I am objecting to the

by mrob 7y ago

>It's childish to feel challenged when someone else has a differing opinion. I am not objecting to differing opinions, or confrontation. I am objecting to the combination of three specific things: * An opinion expressed as fact * which deprecates something * under unusual circumstances which prevent supporters of the thing being deprecated from responding as they would otherwise be able to This is clearly violating the rules of fair argument. It is very far from "everything", and I don't recall ever seeing it on HN before.

rowanG077 7y ago
There is no argument. That's what you are missing. Someone expressing his opinion is not equal to starting an argument, in any context. Starting the argument is the person who actually starts the argumentation process.
- mrob 7y ago
  >Someone expressing his opinion is not equal to starting an argument, in any context. Expressing an opinion as though it is fact, in such a way as to deprecate something or someone, is an attempt to start an argument, whether intentional or not. Anybody associated with the thing being deprecated risks loss of social status, and it is natural human instinct to want to avoid that. If I say "I'm right and you're wrong", that is an attempt to start an argument. In most contexts it would be entirely reasonable for you to reply disputing it, and nobody would claim your were "starting an argument" by doing so. The one who makes the deprecating claim is the one who starts the argument, not the one who replies. I do not object to argument per se. Arguments can be a valuable part of discussion. But if I say "I'm right and you're wrong" in a context where any attempt you make to defend yourself would be downvoted no matter whether it was correct or not, then that is the wrong context to make the claim. There is no value to an argument under such conditions.
  - meruru 7y ago
    Jesus Christ people... how did this go so off the rails? Downvote and move on... WTF.

by mrob 7y ago

rowanG077 7y ago

There is no argument. That's what you are missing. Someone expressing his opinion is not equal to starting an argument, in any context. Starting the argument is the person who actually starts the argumentation process.

mrob 7y ago
>Someone expressing his opinion is not equal to starting an argument, in any context. Expressing an opinion as though it is fact, in such a way as to deprecate something or someone, is an attempt to start an argument, whether intentional or not. Anybody associated with the thing being deprecated risks loss of social status, and it is natural human instinct to want to avoid that. If I say "I'm right and you're wrong", that is an attempt to start an argument. In most contexts it would be entirely reasonable for you to reply disputing it, and nobody would claim your were "starting an argument" by doing so. The one who makes the deprecating claim is the one who starts the argument, not the one who replies. I do not object to argument per se. Arguments can be a valuable part of discussion. But if I say "I'm right and you're wrong" in a context where any attempt you make to defend yourself would be downvoted no matter whether it was correct or not, then that is the wrong context to make the claim. There is no value to an argument under such conditions.
- meruru 7y ago
  Jesus Christ people... how did this go so off the rails? Downvote and move on... WTF.