Ruminations on the Nature of Public Conversations.

[Ashrem]

I don't feel like it's right to try to tell someone who disagrees with us to stop talking. We have the choice to block other people. Telling them to not talk about a point any more, because we don't like what they are saying, is not a reasonable position. This opinion, of course, gets me in trouble with other people frequently.

 

[samidodamage]

I agree. Other people have as much right to their opinions and the right to state/defend their position as I do. I think the reason it doesn't get me in trouble often is my tendency to disengage (or not engage in the first place) when I see signs of intractability (is that a word?) in the other person's presentation of their position. I get as much (?maybe more) satisfaction out of thinking 'bless their hearts(yes, I'm Southern); if they had a couple more neurons firing they might be able to grow/learn something' and keeping it to myself. This applies to my life in the real and cyber worlds. I was told years ago that my 'Really? that's what you think, huh? Interesting.' comes off as really annoying when I won't engage further. My response: 'Oh...good! 'Cause I don't break that one out unless I find the person to whom I am speaking very close minded and annoying anyway.'