Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

[Junkdrawer]

If I had to point to the one thing that is bringing this nation to its knees, it's the more and more commonplace use of deception instead of honest debate.

I'll tell you what I think, you tell me what you think, and we'll talk. Frankly, I just don't have the bandwidth anymore to try to tease out who is a paid agent (whose mind I'll NEVER change) and who is honestly debating me (whose arguments may well change MY mind).

Just not enough hours in the day.

[Rex]

1. I might agree with you one day on one topic

and then disagree the next day on something else.

[defacto7]

2. I would agree...

But it's not just the Internet, it's the whole damn society.

The crazy thing to me... the closest I come to lying in posts is when I feel I have to tiptoe around so I don't make someone feel uncomfortable. But when I let loose, I get the impression that what I say is considered concocted. I have come to the conclusion that I don't give a damn whether people believe me or not, I just say what's is true even if it sounds crazy. As for sorting out other people's intentions, that's not possible. Every word I read is just what it is, words. If the words make sense or change my mind, fine. I would like to feel or imagine that the words are from real people who write in truth, but in reality, the only thing that is truly real on the Internet are the words themselves and what they mean to my mind.

It's really too bad. It's part of the disconnect of human interaction caused by the progress of the Internet age. We are loosing the "each other" which causes people to pretend to be more than they are, misunderstand who they really are, and ironically expect mediocrity and reject exceptionalism. It makes me wonder what the future holds for humanity.

[dogknob]

4. Speaking of concocted, I also love it when...

People who post about something creative they or a friend did are greeted with silence by a forum full of drones who have been trained to regard individuals the same way they regard an entire staff of paid, professional spammers.

One thing we have in abundance is creativity. Why do we obey the MSM and shut each other down?

[Junkdrawer]

6. For example "This American Life - Hot in my Backyard"...

Many, many examples of people (especially Republican Congress Critters) who know Climate Change is real, will tell you so in private, and then give speeches laughing at those who do believe it's real.

And there's a throw-away line or two in there about Climate Scientists who will say it's only a mild problem, then build Prepper retreats for themselves.


http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/495/hot-in-my-backyard

[dogknob]

3. "Chill! I'm just fucking with you..."

Sarcasm applied retroactively, even more cowardly than garden-variety passive-aggressiveness, is more common than ever.

As for dealing with "the pros," try to remember the reason they exist: the 6 corporations that own the MSM are piss-scared of the Internet, so they flood it with bullshit.

This arrived in the mail today (link). I'm going to take 24 photographs of one of my fingers posing next to each fallacy, then when I encounter them here (or elsewhere), I will post the appropriate (jumbo-sized for all to see) photo and move on.

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/

[Junkdrawer]

7. Something like that was taught at my son's HS...

It made a big impression on him.

Coincidentally, it was the same time "Kony 2012" was running through the HS.

[Berlum]

5. Babble On