Listverse has a great post today about topics that should never be discussed online. They are so polarizing that they defy agreement. The act of trying to convince someone that you are right and they are wrong is a near impossibility and almost always start some kind of flame war. Both sides usually have excellent arguments that support their positions if they are in anyways intelligent and well read. Personal opinions have been formed over a person's entire life and unless something radical happens (like going to prison and finding 'god') people pretty much maintain their core beliefs about these topics throughout their lives and pass them onto their children. However, if the person you are talking to SHARES your viewpoint on these topics then arguments can be avoided and you can often times gain more knowledge that you can use the next time someone disagrees with what you think. Weeks ago I got my most comments from a post I did about burning the Bible so I know of what I speak. I even lost a couple of good blogging buddies because our viewpoints were so different from one another. I deeply offended people who did not share my point of view. It was no longer a discussion but felt like a personal attack to them. When that level of vitriol is reached its hard to forgive and forget. Check all the verboten topics by following the link below.
RELIGION
"More people have died in the name of God, whatever name that may be, than pretty much all other causes combined. Christian. Muslim. Buddhist. Atheist. Scientologist. No matter the stripe, a surefire way to get EVERYONE mad is to disparage another’s religion or lack thereof. It’s simple, really. Religion or, spirituality if you will, is probably the most intensely personal part of anyone’s being and that includes those who reject religion and spirituality altogether. Also, religion is a family affair. When someone feels his religion is under attack, that attack immediately becomes personal and familial. One push leads to a counter push and the atomic explosion goes off. To make matters worse, some religions have as an integral part a command to proselytize. Also, some people, not from a sense of command, but of desire, will want to proselytize. When that happens, your intensely personal experience collides with another person’s intensely personal experience and the result is a perfect storm of firestorm."
http://listverse.com/2009/11/18/top-10-things-you-should-never-discuss-online/
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9 comments:
I'm doomed. I have crossed the proverbial line on just about everyone of these topics. I'll try to calm down a little. :)
Kind of a catch-22, I guess. If you want to get some serious debates going, mention any one of them. If people are adult about it, it can all just be matters of opinion. But, sadly, all too often it all dissolves into chaos and name-calling.
So, let's keep an eye out for them damned cephalopods!!!
FINALLY Wings you see the danger we all are in. Welcome to the Revolution brother.
Excellent points. I was at a business networking meeting that was about 50/50 right/left politically and one guy used his "commercial" time to push the Tea Party Movement. Ooh, stare at the floor uncomfortably. You just alienated half the room. Tard.
Speaking of the Revolution, I've posted a dire warning on wheels concerning the cephalopods over at my place.
(Although if it gives you some validation, FireFox's built in spell check does not recognize "cephalopods" as a word. Then again, it doesn't recognize "FireFox" either. Weird.)
Good list, and good post, Cal. I'm sorry you lost some blog friends over differences in opinion. It happens, though, and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it.
Ricky - It was because of a carefully worded request to the good people at FireFox that the word cephalopod doesn't appear in their dictionary. I have agents in the most unexpected places.
I should have known...
c'mon cal you knew you were gonna piss some people off with that post about the bible! but its all good cuz its your blog and you can say whatever you want ;)
that list was pretty all inclusive. i dont know for a fact but i would also estimate it is not wise to show up on a teen girls discussion board and start going on about how totally lame Twilight is.
You are right Artman. I totally was pissed about the Bible that day so I had to rant. Damn my well written inflamatory language! Sometimes I do use my genius for evil.
Twilight is just too easy a target for ridicule to me. It's almost unfair and beneath my intellect to bash it in front of people I know love it. It does have kids reading and especially girls reading just like Harry Potter so as an educator I admire that. But it IS shit. To protect people's feelings I always say the same thing whenever I hear them gush over it - "It wasn't written for old guys like me so I really don't have an opinion." However, when I am around someone who HATES it as much as I do (the gloomy ennui of Kristen Stewart both in the film and real life makes me want to take a axe to her head) I can bash it like no one else. Did I mention it's SHIT?
I have had to listen to people who don't like comic books and would never read anything from the comic genre even such classics as Batman Returns, Kingdom Come and Watchmen. It used to hurt me but now I just feel pity that they don't 'get it' and are missing out. When you love something you want others to love it too. No young girl ever wants to hear me say that shimmering vampires are really stupid.
If you aren't reading Samuri Frog's blog where he is reviewing the book chapter by chapter you need to go there. His snarky reviews are as sweet to me as a rare wine.
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