I think I'd enjoy real debate if I ever found it, but, so far, if it exists at all, it must happen only in social circles well beyond my reach. Every time I've thought I could have a rational conversation with someone, attacking ideas, rather than one another, ...
MarketAndChurch wrote:
I don't like to insult people. I've always hated when an argument leaves ideas and focuses on the personhood of the rivaling opponent.
... that's exactly what happened, some way or other. People seem to consider trying to debate rude (they often accuse me of trying to force my ideas on them, and the more I reason them, the worse) and cowardly (since I'm attacking their ideas and trying to get away with it without suffering personal retaliation). They probably start hinting right from the beginning that my attempt to debate is not welcome, but, of course, I don't notice it till they're overtly insulting me, daring me to express my ideas to their face---if online---hitting me or otherwise making use of their position of power over me. They're always in a position of power over me, and, to them, this probably should settle any argument in their favor before it even starts, so they have to put me in my place for foolishly defying them.
MarketAndChurch wrote:
By the way, I would probably thrive in an Oxford Union type environment.
I've never been in such an environment, but the closest experiences I've had suggest they'd easily dismiss anything I might have to say by pointing out what a smelly and functionally illiterate country bumpkin I am. The most polite would consider this implied and silently ignore me.
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The red lake has been forgotten. A dust devil stuns you long enough to shroud forever those last shards of wisdom. The breeze rocking this forlorn wasteland whispers in your ears, “Não resta mais que uma sombra”.