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

[Kanatatsu]

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?

Actually I'm not starting (or intending to start) a debate, so the hypocrisy (note the spelling) is lost on me.

 

[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.

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

That doesn't say anything definite about my age. College has no maximum age. I could be 55 for all that you know.

That doesn't really matter though. Age isn't in itself important in the world of ideas.

 

[an874]

How is an open discussion in any way detrimental to utilizing time? You may not walk away having made a huge impact on the world, but a good debate sharpens everybody's minds and introduces new concepts for people to consider, making the world a more enlightened place to live in.

And you won't find such a thing on the internet. Instead, someone's mom is going to be likened to Emperor Palpatine/Adolf Hitler/Josef Stalin, to which the reply will be an assault on that person's sexuality, and then from there we get into a clusterfuck.


It's like pissing into an endless sea of piss.


Want a healthy debate? Do it face to face.

It's not like you won't find idiots on the internet, but there are also plenty of smart people to talk with. In my opinion, a reasonable person, such as yourself hopefully, may get the impression that idiocy is more prevalent on the internet, but this is only due to easy connectivity. Consider how easy it is to contact a random person on the internet and start a conversation like this. This ease leads to accelerated interaction, and a greater likelihood of ending up dealing with utter dickheads. The same thing would happen if face to face conversation could be initiated with absolutely anyone as easily.

 

[evilneko]

They may often be pointless for trying to convince someone, but sometimes, I learn something. Usually happens when @Asita posts.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Take a look at the The Official Escapist Community Awards! [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.337686-The-Official-Escapist-Community-Awards-Voting-Now-Open?page=10],

That alone sums it up. People attacking each other over petty shit, arguing over popularity ON THE INTERNET, flambait galore. It alone is the reason I usually spend my days in the Advice thread

Then again, there's debates, and then there's petty arguments/bitching.

 

[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.

That doesn't say anything definite about my age. College has no maximum age. I could be 55 for all that you know.

That doesn't really matter though. Age isn't in itself important in the world of ideas.

Gee, how did I know you were going to respond with something inane like "I could be a really old student!". Idiotic.