Discourse Discussed

Alan Stewart Carl at Donklephant:

What irritates me about leftwingers’ debating style: they perceive all opponents as either brainwashed sheep or evil manipulators. They always want to “educate” rather than actually debate.

What irritates me about rightwingers’ debating style: they categorically reject nuance, boiling down every issue into an either/or dichotomy where their side is righteous and their opponent’s side is a threat to our way of life.

What irritates me about centrists’ debating style: they reflexively avoid conflict, choosing tepid compromise over real solutions.

To which I'd add that what irritates me is that the utility of any statement or argument seems to be based almost wholly on the identity of the arguer, rather than the contents.

I was looking back through some of my old posts, and it seems that at best, I'm a mix between the first and the third. At worst, I'm a different mix between the first and the third...