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

[JoJo]

Actually I don't think it has to be a waste of time, if you're open-minded enough to accept that sometimes you may be wrong or have to change your opinion. I've changed a number of my opinions because of debates with others on this site, even politically somewhat, and even if I have to end up disagreeing with the opponent as usually happens, usually something is learned.

All this does come with the disclaimer though that if you're the sort of the person who believes they are right all the time, it probably is a big waste of time.

 

[JesterRaiin]

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

Taking the size of cosmos and its "lifespan" - what human activity has some meaning ?

 

[Risingblade]

Yup but they are fun to read, especially when people start arguing

 

[orangeban]

I find them to be quite entertaining actually, and I say that nothing is a waste of time if you're having fun.

Besides, they can be enlightening, if you're lucky.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

So you come on an internet forum and create a thread without any discussion just to say internet debates are a waste of time? No offence but that comes off as kinda torllish/flamebaiting or just wanting to watch the fires of internet hatred burn.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Sure there is, there's watching paint dry or watching grass grow.

 

[ElPatron]

Want a healthy debate? Do it face to face.

I entered this thread to touch that subject.


How is arguing on the internet a bigger waste of time than doing it face to face? People can be polite on the internet and people can be rude in real life too.

At least in the internet there are no stab wounds and lost teeth.

Yup but they are fun to read, especially when people start arguing

Is arguing something bad? You just made an argument that countered the OP's opinion. That's arguing.

Arguing is when you have a logical debate, it does not refer to people shouting and posting flammable material.

 

[The Funslinger]

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.

I may not agree with everything I've seen you say on here, but with this, you're absolutely right. That said thread maker, this is probably a troll.

But even so, the vast majority of most hobbies that don't involve making something could be argued as wastes of time. At least with this one, you might learn something, or broaden your perspective. I know I have over the years. In any case, it's no different from the debate teams some schools have, aside from it's impossible to interrupt someone. So if you think about it, it's kind of better...

 

[loc978]

*looks at the name of the site*

yeah... any form of escapism or entertainment is essentially a waste of time. We in the first world have time to waste in seeking enjoyment, so we do. If you want to use all of your time for gainful employment, you wouldn't have made an account here (or on any other entertainment site). Welcome to the land of the time-wasters.

 

[Guffe]

I don't agree.
If having an argument in school about something is learning then in what way does it differ if you would have an open discussion with me here on the escapist? The only diference, we're not in the same room, otherwise exactly the same thing. We come up with arguments and thesis' and try to get the other person to see our point of view based on facts.

 

[Shilefin]

In my opinion, time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted, as John Lennon said. Other then that, debates are good thing, if you're having an actual exchange of thought with another intelligent human being, rather then just youtube comment yelling and name-calling. It's healthy brain exercise, and frankly should be practiced as often as possible.

 

[iDoom46]

Is internet debating a waste of time?

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

 

[Togs]

It offers a place for people to vent their frustrations with no fear of reprisal or consequence, so yes nothing world changing will ever be achieved over the internet but what will happen is a bunch of emotionally repressed geeks will get to feel better about themselves for 20 minutes or so.

And to me at least, thats well worth it.

 

[Athinira]

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.

Funny. I've found plenty of such debates on the internet. In fact, i think I'm approaching having either read or participated in around ~2-3 of such debates per day (on average) for the past 12 years, which means that I'm now personally approaching around 7-8000 healthy debates.

Maybe you should change your forum.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

The debates usually turn into arguments that no one will back up on and say "You were right, I was wrong."

Newer members don't want to make an impression of "that guy who got destroyed in an argument"
Older members don't want their peers to see them as "that guy who got destroyed in an argument"

So it turns into a bickerfest until both people walk away with nothing learned.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I was going to say 'Porn' but I was quickly reminded of something George Carlin once said about voting that can easily be applied here in this situation:

"At least when I get finished masturbating I have a little something to show for it."

Online debates may not be the same as masturbation but they require a similar effort to do so online. Well actually, maybe not: You can't get a good debate through a google image search.

 

[lRookiel]

Doing nothing would class as the biggest waste of time ever....

 

[kasperbbs]

Well you could be talking to yourself, or a chair or you could watch jersey shore, ok ill stop now..

 

[Nietz]

I would have to say that it depends on the debate, the people involved and the site. Unfortunately, on the internet, there is really no way of knowing if a debate is going to be a valid exchange of ideas or a pie throwing contest.

Also:
"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."
-John Lennon