Regarding online etiquette

[The_Tron]

So several months ago on a certain popular video distribution site I made a comment about how people require a 6 1/2 hours of sleep to function properly. Someone proceeded take this very literally (insisted that I said people would keel over and die if they didn't get 6 1/2 hours sleep every night NO exceptions). Then proceeds to call me "socially inept and have a inferiority complex". Naturally this was used in an insulting context so I assumed it was an insult, then insulted him in return calling him an ignorant idiot for believing the word of a random opinion blog (basically the high times equivalent of cracked.com) instead of countless university studies, doctors and reputable news sources. He then states that his "insults" aren't actually insults and that the mere fact that I was insulted by them proves that they were true (some convoluted fifth grade logic I know) and then proceeds to report me. I would just like to know some peoples opinions on the matter, any how or what you would have done differently or what you think I can do. The report went through this morning and I have a "strike" my first one ever and now I'm trying to appeal it, complain to the site itself and report him. Sometimes the way people act online can be very irritating and the fact that he reported me after such instigation really bugs me.

 

[kailus13]

If they're calling you "socially inept and have an inferiority complex" then that is an insult. Unfortunately, calling them an ignorant idiot is also being insulting. I'd say you're both in the wrong here. Their logic is truly baffling though.

 

[The_Tron]

oh ya, I never denied that I insulted them in return. But did have a big back and forth with him over who threw the first insult, and when I quoted it to him he said "those aren't insults, they're conditions. And the mere fact that you take them as insults means they're true." To which point I said something along the lines of "really so you try telling that to a complete stranger and see whether or not they're insulted." Somewhere shortly after I was reported. People can be so weird online when they're behind an anonymity cloak. I mean I acknowledge I'm not the greatest debater as I don't have a whole lot of practice (the guy here was clearly just out to pick an argument) but this was ridiculous, for a month and a half filling my email box with his BS. And I get get reported.

 

[eBusiness]

Someone proceeded take this very literally (insisted that I said people would keel over and die if they didn't get 6 1/2 hours sleep every night NO exceptions).

Correct categorization will solve many issues. This is not a direct insult, it is a deliberate misquotation, which of course is a bannable offense on any decent site (unfortunately decent sites are in short supply on the internet). Call it out for what it is in plain and polite language, and if you feel like fighting throw in a comment aimed at no one in particular about some peoples inability to read and comprehend a simple English sentence.

Never resolve to name-calling, it makes moderators' work way too easy.

 

[Nicaragua7]

This person was just trying to troll you. No rational person gets that worked up over someone suggesting that people who only sleep 6 or less hours typically have a harder time concentrating on tasks. I get why you replied, I don't much like backing down from attacks either, but in this case he's just wasting your time. Maybe a better future response is "I didn't mean that and you know it. This isn't important enough to me to waste any more time on, now go bug someone else".

 

[NoeL]

But did have a big back and forth with him over who threw the first insult, and when I quoted it to him he said "those aren't insults, they're conditions. And the mere fact that you take them as insults means they're true." To which point I said something along the lines of "really so you try telling that to a complete stranger and see whether or not they're insulted." Somewhere shortly after I was reported. People can be so weird online when they're behind an anonymity cloak. I mean I acknowledge I'm not the greatest debater as I don't have a whole lot of practice (the guy here was clearly just out to pick an argument) but this was ridiculous, for a month and a half filling my email box with his BS. And I get get reported.

Fighting on the internet is like running in the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded. Especially on Youtube.

It's all well and good to share ideas and have discussions - even if you're only doing it for the mental sparring - but once it gets to the level of hurling insults you're wasting your time thereafter. Whether or not you're socially inept with an inferiority complex has no bearing or the recommended amount of sleep a person get each night, so it's nothing more than an ad hominem. That's when you try to steer them back to the topic or end the discussion.

 

[The_Tron]

All good points. If only I would have done that before discussion broke down. I honestly tried to keep it civil as long as I could, I guess I just fell too hard for the trolling. Oh well, live and learn.