How to fight the urge to argue online.

[Strain42]

I tend to get into a lot of arguments online, and that's to be expected. People have different opinions and etc. etc.

But I really need to cut back on it. I do it way more than I should, and it's usually over stuff I don't even care about that much.

What do you guys do to avoid it? Every now and then I just muster up the strength to just leave a post that sums up my side and not click on the topic again, but sometimes that's not enough.

Any advice, or possibly your own stories on the matter, would be appreciated.

 

[Blindrooster]

Just accept that everyone except you is an idiot.

 

[Irridium]

I just... ignore it and not post. Pretty much the long and short of it.

Definitely not for everyone I know, but it's what I do.

 

[Pappytech]

I use my enormous amount of apathy to ignore people online!

In all seriousness, I sit back and think, "Whatever I say here, the person I'm going to be arguing with will not change their mind, nor will I change mine." Then I just back off and forget about it.

 

[jakko12345]

Personally, I just come to the realization that arguing online is totally inconsequential and needlessly angering, then I stop

 

[-Drifter-]

You're asking The Escapist how to avoid getting into arguments?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Any advice, or possibly your own stories on the matter, would be appreciated.

Ask yourself if anything bad would happen if you ignored that person.

Then press ignore. (And possibly report)

Then carry on with something fun.

Remember that for every thought you have, there will be at least one person with exactly the reverse response that's justified by their life experience. Doesn't mean you have to listen to them, just respect they want to be an idiot.

 

[TheIronRuler]

I tend to get into a lot of arguments online, and that's to be expected. People have different opinions and etc. etc.

But I really need to cut back on it. I do it way more than I should, and it's usually over stuff I don't even care about that much.

What do you guys do to avoid it? Every now and then I just muster up the strength to just leave a post that sums up my side and not click on the topic again, but sometimes that's not enough.

Any advice, or possibly your own stories on the matter, would be appreciated.

Your wrong, arging online is AWSOME.
Hurr Hurr.
'nuff said.
.
Now that the joke is over, I'd like to say that you can just make the comment a joke.
Ha, he's so stupid! You won't educate anyone online.

 

[theheroofaction]

First to master the internet, you must master yourself, find your true self and learn to control your feelings....

Na, just messing with you.

You gotta realize that your first arguement is the best one, and if that doesn't convince someone, nothing you say will.

 

[Rawne1980]

I try to avoid serious arguments but sometimes you get those little banters going on with someone that can be quite amusing.

I love a bit of banter every now and then but you need to be careful, some people take things said quite literally even if you what you said was light hearted.

 

[AperioContra]

Pick your battles. Choose which arguments are worth your time, and which aren't. No real magic bullet here. Just stop.

If you find yourself getting worked up over a post, I generally write something down, turn it into comedy. It's easier to ridicule something than to get caught in the troll trap.

 

[DEAD34345]

Why would you want to fight that urge? If you like arguing on the net, argue on the net. It's not like it's doing anyone any harm. If people don't want to argue with you, they won't, if people do want to argue with you, they will.

Personally, I get into arguments all the time, both on the net and in real life. Half the time I don't really care about what I'm arguing about, but I do it anyway because I enjoy it. Why would I stop, and why should you?

 

[Worr Monger]

I've gotten myself wrapped up in some LOOOONNGG debates on forums... and it gets exhausting. I think if you go through enough of those, you eventually learn that it gets you NOWHERE.

I haven't been able to stop 100%.. but I know when to say "it's not worth the trouble"... but sometimes I just can't help but think "this crap needs to be said"

 

[Dragunai]

I am reminded of the rules of the internet at this point:

Rule 11 - All your carefully picked arguments can be ignored
Rule 12 - Anything you say, can and will be used against you
Rule 13 - Anything you say, can be turned into something else
Rule 14 - Do not argue with trolls, it means they win

Most importantly

Rule 20 - Nothing is to be taken seriously

 

[spartan231490]

Just accept that everyone except you is an idiot.

This actually works surprisingly well. The willingness to believe that your arguing opponent is a parroting idiot makes it a lot easier to just walk away. Of course, that makes it really hard to walk away when they prove that they aren't.

 

[Vampire cat]

I was writing a somewhat serious post telling you to get a PC like mine that crashes every time I try to write a forum post, but as I posted it my PC crashed...

So, get a PC like mine!

 

[staika]

It usually takes all the mental power I have to not push the post button but I am able to not push post. also if someone tries to argue something I posted I either ignore it or write a witty response to piss them off, works most of the time.

 

[Strain42]

So I think the main thing to take away from this is just try to learn to take the high road, ignore the temptation and try to move on with my pointless life

Thanks everyone, this has actually been really helpful and calming (no sarcasm)

You're asking The Escapist how to avoid getting into arguments?

...I would think that shows how desperate I was for advice xD

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Type up your whole manifesto about how Sephrioth95's opinion on erotic Naruto fan-fiction (or whatever) is horrible, wait a bit, and then close out of the tab. You're argument is clearly too good for such moronic philistines, they don't even deserve to hear your arguments, it would be like Gladstone debating a stable boy on the merits of manure.

At least that's what I tell myself.

 

[badgersprite]

See that little arrow pointing to the left at the top of your screen?

Click it. Works wonders.

Why care about what some dude you're never going to meet on the other side of the world thinks about something? His thoughts and opinions, no matter how wrong and offensive they are, aren't going to change anything. He's one dude. He can think what he wants. If he's really that stupid and wrong then chances are everyone else can see it and already knows he's wrong and hence doesn't need to be told by you.

Trust me, the thoughts and opinions of people on the internet aren't about to influence global politics.

Plus, if you're really incensed and offended, just hit report.