Citizen
Founder's Club Member
imported post
Here are my tips for successful arguing on the forum.
1) DON'T ARGUE. "What?", youmay ask. "I've been tricked by the thread title!" Not at all. Read on.
2) Lots more people read the threads than participate. See thepost counts and view counts by the thread titles.
3) Just like martial arts, use his momentum against him. In this case, just step aside and let him run into the wall of public opinion, buttressed by your reputation.
4) Have faith in your forum mates. They're not stupid. If you can recognize a newbie or troll is being an idiot, impolite, or argumentative, your forum mates can recognize it, too. They will think far less of him than they will of you. Especially if you remain silent and do not get into the fight.
5) So lethim blather, cuss, call names.
6) If you think it worth responding at all, just be calm, patient, and polite about it. Do realize that your assailant probably won't change his view easily anyway, so consider how much effort it might take when deciding whether its worth it. I consider generally thatif he isn't going to play nice, I don't owe it to him to pass along knowledge or wisdom that it hastaken meover a yearto aquire by reading the wiser heads on this forum.
7) Remember, the forum is here to share knowledge and wisdom. If somebody wants to start an argument, he is violating that basic purpose. No sense in you perpetuating that violation.
Here are my tips for successful arguing on the forum.
1) DON'T ARGUE. "What?", youmay ask. "I've been tricked by the thread title!" Not at all. Read on.
2) Lots more people read the threads than participate. See thepost counts and view counts by the thread titles.
3) Just like martial arts, use his momentum against him. In this case, just step aside and let him run into the wall of public opinion, buttressed by your reputation.
4) Have faith in your forum mates. They're not stupid. If you can recognize a newbie or troll is being an idiot, impolite, or argumentative, your forum mates can recognize it, too. They will think far less of him than they will of you. Especially if you remain silent and do not get into the fight.
5) So lethim blather, cuss, call names.
6) If you think it worth responding at all, just be calm, patient, and polite about it. Do realize that your assailant probably won't change his view easily anyway, so consider how much effort it might take when deciding whether its worth it. I consider generally thatif he isn't going to play nice, I don't owe it to him to pass along knowledge or wisdom that it hastaken meover a yearto aquire by reading the wiser heads on this forum.
7) Remember, the forum is here to share knowledge and wisdom. If somebody wants to start an argument, he is violating that basic purpose. No sense in you perpetuating that violation.