Commenting on controversial issues
Jan. 7th, 2010 06:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jackIf I see a debate, particularly online, I'm often much more eager to jump in with a contribution if it's on something that I've just recently worked out in my mind. I'm fresh with an idea, and want to share (even if it seems silly and naive later).
If it's about something I'm confident of, I'll comment if it actually adds the specific information needed, or if I think I can actually explain it better than anyone else, but if I think the reply is obvious, I'm happy to let someone else make it.
I think this is natural. It's like, if someone says the sky is green, there's little to say, but if they argue badly about infinity, you instinctively want to correct them.
But it does mean that people are perpetually getting into arguments about things just on the cusp of their understanding, when they may learn useful things, but may also make an idiot of themselves.
A controversial post on infinity, or feminism, or the welfare state, is likely to draw 50 comments from people who feel the battle isn't fought yet, and one or two from people who are ready to learn from a blank slate, or feel the issue is settled in their mind.
In some ways this makes sense, but it means that while discussions may be interesting to participate in, they tend not normally to be very informative unless you're at that exact level of ignorance yourself.
If it's about something I'm confident of, I'll comment if it actually adds the specific information needed, or if I think I can actually explain it better than anyone else, but if I think the reply is obvious, I'm happy to let someone else make it.
I think this is natural. It's like, if someone says the sky is green, there's little to say, but if they argue badly about infinity, you instinctively want to correct them.
But it does mean that people are perpetually getting into arguments about things just on the cusp of their understanding, when they may learn useful things, but may also make an idiot of themselves.
A controversial post on infinity, or feminism, or the welfare state, is likely to draw 50 comments from people who feel the battle isn't fought yet, and one or two from people who are ready to learn from a blank slate, or feel the issue is settled in their mind.
In some ways this makes sense, but it means that while discussions may be interesting to participate in, they tend not normally to be very informative unless you're at that exact level of ignorance yourself.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-09 11:56 pm (UTC)