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Here's a thought, have you ever stopped and asked yourself WHY people react to you in this way, instead of just assuming it points to EVERYONE else being flawed in some way?

Often. Not always. And it's not necessary. Many of us would like to be at or near the top of the intellectual totem pole. The majority, and I don't think aspie or NT makes any difference to that, try to reach the top by winning arguments, by beating others down. It seems often the winning is more important than being right, and the worst possible error is to think that someone who disagrees could be right.

An alternative approach, unfortunately only used by a minority, is to redefine what it means to be at the top of the intellectual food chain and to say it is ability and willingness to improve and learn. That changes the focus from trying to destroy the other's arguments to trying to find something worthwhile in them. That approach can be difficult to sustain when encountering someone only interested in winning, as I found out here a year ago. I still did learn something useful from that debate: how far I still fall short of the standards I aim for. And that the only thing you can do is to drop the argument and give those people the last word. They'll have it anyway, even if you waste a significant portion of your time on trying to reason with them.


Intellectual dishonesty often is part of the "win the argument at all costs" approach.


True, but understanding this is not the same as saying this is right. And I can think of several WP members who respect other people as much as any non-aspie I ever met.


Perhaps I've led too sheltered a life, perhaps it's because no other discussion group I read deals with politics and religion, but PPR is the worst I've seen. I would also find it more enjoyable with less aggression.

i thought the whole point of a debate was to try to improve oneself through considering and weighing another's perspective....wow, how psychotic am i? i have to agree with you--for most it seems to be just about winning. everyone is competing, rather than cooperating. i hate competition. i would rather learn from other people, learn how to cooperate, rather than jostle for position. crazy me

we could all benefit from a dose of humour as well, i think.....people have a tendency to take themselves too seriously. all people.

That is your position. Any time you state a claim, you take a position.

See how easy it is? Now my position is at odds with yours.

Break out tha badgers and machetes!

You have to get used to it Shiggily. Where else will you find such a diverse group of thinkers except for the back alleys of Chicago maybe. I like bantering with bums too.

Seriously, there are a lot of intellectuals here. The anger is just passion.

Here's a thought, have you ever stopped and asked yourself WHY people react to you in this way, instead of just assuming it points to EVERYONE else being flawed in some way?

Okay ... I found my machete!

Loose the badgers!

With nuclear badgers.

Humor is for the weak. The strong use brutal mockery.

it is not a reaction to me. It is an observation of the way people treat other people. It is the threads that people start to hurt other people. It is the nasty things they say about people who disagree with them. I don't know...maybe like Hitler comparisons. Calling people delusional terrorists. Nazi, evil troll. internet screaming that is the same in real life... where people would rather talk with rude words and fists and bats that discuss controversial issues like humans. But I didn't expect you to get that part. I mean I expected you to assume that I was only talking about me and jump to conclusions. I don't really care if people call me names. It makes for an amusing drinking game (BTW thanks for contributing). I care that it prohibits intellectual discussion and learning by appealing to ad hominem, and emotions.

No one likes to listen to insane crazy angry idiot people.

hrmm, so when you refer to namecalling, does that include saying things like...

you missed the joke. its ok.

No one likes to listen to insane crazy angry idiot people.