Debates on the internet -- is there any bigger waste of time?

[ElPatron]

And you have fun being a pedant who refuses to acknowledge that words change their meanings over time and context.


And if you think that's insulting you have a very thin skin.

Words change their meaning, but the word argue still maintains the meaning it had 10 years ago, before everyone had internet.

And let me tell you, the day the word "argue" loses it's meaning (it won't in the next few years) it's because of stupid people who don't know what it means.

Like "awesome". It's losing it's meaning because everything is "awesome", even if it doesn't inspire awe.

But "arguing" maintained it's meaning because even if it's a violent debate, it is still arguing. You can't just say that all arguing is "bad".

And using the right vocabulary is pedantic? I'm sure you must love your teachers when they correct your mistakes.

And if you think that's insulting you have a very thin skin.

If the shoe fits.

To me you just considered it *might* be insulting, so of course it is. Same thing with the "n-word", you know it *might* be offensive, so you won't say it around people you don't know.

 

[Kanatatsu]

I honestly can't think of one. It seems like the most pointless and wasteful use of time possible.

Son, ultimately, everything is a waste of time.

I am older than you, "son".

 

[InfectedStar]

Wouldn't this thread be pointless then, and wouldn't it be like saying that "Common (physical) discussions between two or more people are pointless." Yet they fill you in on things you don't know and give you a broader perspective of the world around you and the people in it?

 

[Jdb]

I don't think I've ever seen an Internet debate keep focus. No matter what it is - video games, movies, books, and so on - somewhere along the line it's going to turn into a debate about how people debate.

 

[nepheleim]

I would venture that reading Youtube comments is a bigger waste of time. Contributing an even bigger waste.

But an sort of inter-personal interaction (be it debate, name calling, whatever) will force the mind to at least shape ideas into sentences (or the fragments that litter the interwebs) and form some kind of cogent structure. That's good practice.

 

[RagTagBand]

Are there bigger wastes of time? Yes. Lots of things - Debates on the internet are NOT a waste of time.

First and foremost, the internet is one of the only places you'll find people debating/discussing anything of any depth beyond which Xfactor contesetant is the bestest.

And yes, people are ruder on the internet, in real life people aren't rude not because they don't think rude things but because they don't like real-life conflict. What is a real life debate but getting in someones face and telling them you think they're wrong? People avoid confrontation, the same freedom the internet gives that lets human beings think they can call everybody a dick is the same freedom that lets human beings discuss important things in a frank manner.

IF you are under the impression that RL "debates" are somehow worth more intellectually I think you'll find you've climbed up your own asshole.

Internet "debates" are blunt and rude but they go straight to the matter at hand.

Real life "debates" are more pleasant and civil, but in that civility people dance and skip around hard issues for fear of offending or provoking the other person.

SO The choice is yours, really, you can have a frank debate about personal beliefs and politics but you'll have to deal with the fact that you are stepping on someones toes and noone will apologise for stepping on yours.

OR

You can have a superficial debate, full of pleasantries and bitten tongues, where the intellectually bankrupt phrase "agree to disagree" will sprout up within minutes, Where any friends around you will make fun of how serious you're being.

Personally I enjoy the former and find the latter to be thoroughly shallow. If anything, I would say that RL debates are pointless.

(I could go on further but i'm fucking sleepy)

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

You could whine about it and maybe end up in a quotefest debate over wasting your time on the internet. Come on Escapist, quote the OP and get him to debate you here... I want to see it...

[sub][sub]Moo! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9iIgQN5uZE&feature=related][/sub][/sub]

Well that... that was... that was what that was.

[sub]I'm scared :S[/sub]

 

[Vault101]

mabye...but for some reason I like having a palce to broadcast my thourghts and opinions, its also helped the way I veiw/think about things

 

[Joccaren]

Is there a bigger waste of time than Internet debating?
Sure
Real Life debating
Watching a Movie
Playing a game
Using social networking sites
Watching TV
Talking to people
Building models
Most hobbies

A lot of things are a bigger waste of time.
Internet debating I learn things from, and teach things to others. Generally people aren't so stubborn as to refuse ideas entirely.
Real Life Debating results in limited discussion due to the fact that there is usually a limited number of rounds or something.
Watching a Movie gets you nowhere, as anything you COULD learn from a movie (Not much these days) is often already discussed on the Internet.
Playing a game wastes time as though you learn things from it, you could discuss that stuff quicker and thus learn quicker with someone on the Internet.
Watching TV is the same as watching a movie, but worse. Seriously.
Social Networking sites never teach you anything, and are generally places for people to go and complain about how depressed they are, and how they're never going to date another guy again, but really want a new boyfriend [We must go derper...].
Talking to people accomplishes as much as an Internet debate, but you have to organise a time that suits you both, rather than simply posting something and waiting for a reply from one of millions of people.
Building models gets you nowhere, same for many hobbies. They are a waste of time simply to entertain oneself.


About now you should realise how stupid this all is as all of them have potential to not be a waste of time. You can learn things and better your life from all of them, just like with Internet debating. It all depends on who you do the stuff with, and how you do it.

 

[Ammutseba]

An internet dabate about whether internet debates are a waste of time or not. Fantastic.

 

[LilithSlave]

I think this is just something we tell ourselves when we do bad at debates or feel frustrated.

Let's not underestimate the communication happening. And that communication is the root of all culture. The thing that separates us from other animals, having a culture.

Is internet debating a waste of time?

Hmmmm... I dunno. Let's debate about it.

Why does this answer the thread so perfectly?

 

[Itsthefuzz]

I feel like the point of most threads is "I think X, how could any of you think Y?" and then Everyone else either says "I agree with thinking X and here's why." or "Y makes more sense and here's why." Then the first response happens the first person feels validated in their opinion and when the second happens they don't ever change their mind, just explain why their reasoning for liking Y is wrong and they're still right.

 

[TheNaut131]

Is internet debating a waste of time?

Hmmmm... I dunno. Let's debate about it.

Why does this answer the thread so perfectly?

Because we're all thinking.

I'm sure most of the people commenting on this thread thought of making a comment similar to this one, but decided to actually think about it and humor the OP.

 

[nothingspringstomind]

As the song says "Leafblowers, is there anything more futile?"

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

You could whine about it and maybe end up in a quotefest debate over wasting your time on the internet. Come on Escapist, quote the OP and get him to debate you here... I want to see it...

[sub][sub]Moo! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9iIgQN5uZE&feature=related][/sub][/sub]

Well that... that was... that was what that was.

[sub]I'm scared :S[/sub]

Believe me, that was nothing... [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZfmPREbTd8&feature=related]

 

[Iron Lightning]

I honestly can't think of one. It seems like the most pointless and wasteful use of time possible.

Son, ultimately, everything is a waste of time.

I am older than you, "son".

How the fuck do you know? Are you stalking me, boy?

By the way, age =/= wisdom.

 

[Lord Revan 117]

I honestly can't think of one. It seems like the most pointless and wasteful use of time possible.

How about making a topic on a forum about debating on the internet? Do you not see the hipocracy of this thread's existance about the point its trying to make?

 

[SextusMaximus]

You're right!

[sub]"hey guys, pull back the site, it's fucking pointless now!"[/sub]

Debate can lead to argument and on the other hand can led to stimulating and interesting discussion, it's not all bad - but some of it can be.

Also, by making this thread, you've initiate a debate.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

I honestly can't think of one. It seems like the most pointless and wasteful use of time possible.

So you are debating (on the internet) the merits of debates on the internet?

You're joking, right? Not to sound like an asshole, or anything, but this sounds like you're having fun at my expense.

 

[Kanatatsu]

I honestly can't think of one. It seems like the most pointless and wasteful use of time possible.

Son, ultimately, everything is a waste of time.

I am older than you, "son".

How the fuck do you know? Are you stalking me, boy?

By the way, age =/= wisdom.

Your profile says you are a physics student. Not hard to figure out.