How dare you question my opinions!?
Last week I ended up debating with a few people on Twitter regarding the Manning/Lamo brouhaha. They were of the understanding that what Lamo did was the only thing to do to keep ‘America safe from jihadists [sic] planning to blowup their country’.
From my point of view I felt I was very polite and was just being inquisitive. Apparently some people actually believe you have no right what so ever to question their opinions, views, reasoning, logic or facts. They assume they should be able to say what they want without being questioned.
Like I tweeted last week, if someone has the communiqué that states it is insulting to ask questions, please forward it to me as I have not received that on yet.
The most important thing to keep in mind when stating something in a public forum is that you are not immune to questioning, and there will always be that one person [me] who will question you.
If you have stated something and someone is inquiring about it, as I see it, you have three simple options:
- Answer the best way you can regarding your statement in an honest and non-confrontational manner.
Keep in mind, if you do this, you have to see to it you control the discussion. - If in doubt, say ‘no comment’.
Of course, you will be called a coward, but the person asking will not have any words to twist and turn against you. - Get upset and lose it.
From my experience, this is very popular to do especially online. It is also the worst thing you can do, as you will in the end look like a fool.
I am well aware that my questions can be very direct and have no sugar coating, but I try my best to come across as polite; especially by not using ad hominem attacks and logical fallacies.
One person told med suddenly that ‘ur right, I’m wrong [sic]‘. I told him that I prefer to say that we should agree that we disagree.
This is also a classical mistake most people do. They think it is some kind of competition about who is right and wrong. In most cases when you are dealing with opinions, there is really no right or wrong, just different views.
It would be like if I asked someone why they like strawberry ice cream. Just because I ask doesn’t mean I am saying they are wrong. I am just curious and want to know why. You know, like kids do.
Are we not allowed to ask questions when we grow up? Should we just accept everything everyone says without questioning it?
Another person, from my point of view, completely lost it. I was apparently a dumbass, a know-it-all and preventing Manning to get a fair trial. That is what I remember, as she apparently deleted all her replies to me for some reason. She also have this sad view far too many Americans have, that America is superior to everyone and that they are the reason for all the great things in the world, even freedom and keeping the jihadists [sic] away from her home.
Delusional much?
I admit that sometime I can get a bit frustrated when people question me, but I still try to be civil and polite about it. Try not to take it as a personal insult and maybe even question their motive for questioning me.
Especially online it is very crucial to keep your cool. The internet never forgets.
Of course, if you are obviously not polite, I will let you know.
So next time someones questions your opinion, they might just do it out of curiosity and not out of spite.
It it is out of spite, destroy them!
