Your favorite way to argue on a forum - Historum

Virgil · November 14th, 2012, 04:35 PM

What kind of discussions do you enjoy? I will give my type of "fun" or "meaningfulness" and I hope I will get feedback on other peoples' preferences.

I know some people will wrongly assume that I am being critical of styles different from my own. Nothing could be further from the truth. We all feel more comfortable on different threads at different times depending on the style of argument and the subject of course. I prefer the conversational style, keeping the posts short enough to read in a minute or less. This style can be emotional, which is good if you and your threadmates can control their emotions, and it can be very entertaining. It can also go off course and result in the Mods having to intervene.

I have noticed other styles on subjects that interest me, but there seems to be so much more research done in posts, with a dozen quotes being offered in one post, or maybe a quote that will take 10 minutes to read because it is long. That I find intimidating a bit, as if I should go read or re-read a book before I join that argument.

What do you think?

Virgil · November 14th, 2012, 04:57 PM

I should have done like Pedro and called this thread "Naked Ladies".

**Gorge123** · November 14th, 2012, 04:59 PM

wait why?

**Pacific_Victory** · November 14th, 2012, 05:03 PM

Good evening Virgil my friend,

Personally I enjoy the conversations that take from both of your examples. The ones that are mostly conversational but with occasional "epic post" which provides numerous examples and sources for a claim and can really reinvigorate a thread. I also despise when people use Ad Hominems.

Virgil · November 14th, 2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorge123

wait why?

It draws attention Gorge. Anyway the cavalry is arriving, I see Pacific Victory and Rongo at the bottom of the screen, you can't do any better than that.

Virgil · November 14th, 2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacific_Victory

Good evening Virgil my friend,

Personally I enjoy the conversations that take from both of your examples. The ones that are mostly conversational but with occasional "epic post" which provides numerous examples and sources for a claim and can really reinvigorate a thread. I also despise when people use Ad Hominems.

I can tell you why I think some people use the Ad Hominems. If you observe politics in the US, or the world, that is an acceptable form of campaigning. Unfortunate, but common. I think that popular culture uses that form of argument as well. It is kind of like the "Strawman" technique.

**Rongo** · November 14th, 2012, 05:13 PM

For me, in general, the more fact is in a thread and the less opinion, the better. Threads where people just beat each other the head with their opinions are a big waste of time for me. You'll rarely change anyone else's opinion with your own opinion. Facts, on the other hand, can make a difference.

But there are also certain threads that call for opinion. Where appropriate, these can be nice to see where people stand. But these are usually the Lounge type threads, rather than the historical threads.

**Rongo** · November 14th, 2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

I can tell you why I think some people use the Ad Hominems. If you observe politics in the US, or the world, that is an acceptable form of campaigning. Unfortunate, but common. I think that popular culture uses that form of argument as well. It is kind of like the "Strawman" technique.

The ABSOLUTE WORST is the Ad Hitlerums. There was a while there were it seemed like that was going on in practically every other thread. I have to admit I was getting pretty fed up with this forum back then. But fortunately (knocking on wood), that has toned down a lot lately.

Woofinator9 · November 14th, 2012, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

It draws attention Gorge. Anyway the cavalry is arriving, I see Pacific Victory and Rongo at the bottom of the screen, you can't do any better than that.

if i could do any thing i wish for the naked lady I would press the heck yeah button or more mature the face palm button

**Pacific_Victory** · November 14th, 2012, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rongo

The ABSOLUTE WORST is the Ad Hitlerums. There was a while there were it seemed like that was going on in practically every other thread. I have to admit I was getting pretty fed up with this forum back then. But fortunately (knocking on wood), that has toned down a lot lately.

I remember that

the way I see it, opinions are worthless without facts, but facts are dry without opinion. It takes both.

@Virgil, you are absolutely right. In fact, almost every logical fallacy is accepted as legitimate in the public discourse. Unfortunate really. The sad fact remains that the masses are usually swayed with emotion rather than cool reason.