You know why I like debating other folks here on DU?

[tclambert]

20. You're silly. Like all that research and thought applies to arguing with people in the real world.

Regular people (and more so with Republican types) don't debate with facts and subtle complexities. They argue with sound bites, false facts, irrelevancies, and changing the subject if they feel their worldview threatened. Mention Bush's idiocies and they'll bring up Reagan, claiming he cut taxes and created a booming economy while simultaneously and single-handedly dismantling the Soviet Union.

9/11 was all Clinton's fault, by the way, 'cause George W. Bush had barely begun his Presidency when it happened. One guy actually said that to me. I pointed out he took the oath of office on Jan. 20th, 2001, 7 3/4 months before 9/11. He disagreed, claiming Bush took office late, delayed by Al Gore's challenging the election results! And he would not consider looking it up anywhere to check this "fact." He insisted he remembered it himself and didn't need any other reference than his own memory. How do you even hold a discussion with people like that?