[johnnyanmac]

This is like inventing a knife and using it to to more efficiently cut off hide and cook meals. Then later some other dude comes along and says "oh hey, I can kill people with this!" Who's to blame?

(Things are really dire when I need to make a 2nd amendment appeal as a metaphor for a government system).

[intended]

You are missing it.

These discussions are not about logic or facts. They are about emotions and content.

Most people are arguing from conclusions.

I won’t go into why “the dems are wrong” is a conclusion, or why it’s so common - it’s just got that feel of being right.

But by jumping to the end, there’s a chance to break the endless cycle of arguments online. Or at least have some fun with it.

When you jump to the end, the current argument is the same as the conclusion, creating cognitive dissonance, and often forcing the brain to actually engage to understand what’s going on.

In your example - you are saying that the dems were good. They didn’t use the knife to kill.

This only leads to more argument. Consensus depends on the other side agreeing that not killing people is good.

Which they can’t, because - see point 1. Arguing from conclusions.

So they will be forced to take more complex positions, carve out exceptions and generally create frustration.

[johnnyanmac]

>They are about emotions and content.

well, I'm a democrat but I never cared much for "hurting people's feelings" on the internet when I'm simply posting comparisons and links. I purposely try to involve as little of the user into my arguments as possible: I'm attacking their argument, not them.

I'm ultimately to others, a piece of text on the internet with a semi-anonymous handle. There is very little I can do to cheer people up. It is a magnitude harder to make people happy on the internet than making people mad. I'm already at a disadvantadge by not having a face attached to my words.

>it’s just got that feel of being right.

Likewise, I don't stop at "it feels right" when I scrutinize myself. I introspect and say "why do I feel good/bad from this" and I've overtime gotten good at elaboring on my feelings. Sometimes I even defuse myself when I realize my feelings aren't rational. I don't like riling myself up over trivial issues. Not when theres so many non-trivial issues in my life to deal with.

>In your example - you are saying that the dems were good. They didn’t use the knife to kill.

I never explicitly said the dems were good. But yes, the assumption from many people are "making food and clothes is good. This is a good tool". But the knife is a tool and a tool is as good as its weilder. Whether it was effective is a much ore subjective argument.

>This only leads to more argument. Consensus depends on the other side agreeing that not killing people is good.

Well those are not people I engage in discussion with. I know these topics are polarized but I still am trying to maintain the ethos of HN in exploring curiosity. People who simply want to preach is not someone to see curiosity from. Likewise, a closed mind with their conclusion set is not someone who's ready to discuss.

It seems to be decreasing as of late. But I "discussed" on Reddit for years and year, and even on 4chan. It's like a gold rush, but reading those few times where you actually convince someone, you get convinced of a point, or you simply have an insightful comment chime in does give me hope in discussions like this.

[intended]

>I'm attacking their argument, not them.

Why? What are you fundamentally working towards?

Is it to argue for your own benefit? If so then this makes sense.

If it is to convince the other person, then what matters is understanding them and how to get to them.

>It seems to be decreasing as of late.

You seem like a person who aims to be thoughtful. I will speak from my own actions - I anticipated and called this escalation out, probably a decade ago by now.

I am not very smart. If this is obvious to me, it should be obvious to any other thinking person, perhaps after moving some assumptions around.

This is how I work to continue to communicate and uphold my principles, in an environment that is changing.

If something ceases to work, and to repeat the behavior, is .. well its many things, but lets call it frustrating.

So I ask again - what is the point? You end with the goal of convincing someone.

I won't urge you to use my techniques, or my crack brained approach.

But is it fair to point out to you - that something is rotten in the state of Denmark, that people are increasingly immunized to our typical attempts at reason?

If you agree so, and if you also believe in the spirit of inquiry, the search for truth and the pursuit of progress (lots of "ifs"), then would it be a stretch to say new tools, approaches are needed?

(Side note - I read tons of stuff on misinformation, indoctrination, and communities. So I am not exactly completely flying high without a tether)