I'm losing my patience with an idiot, how do I stay calm
I've recently started to go back to Islam and Islam demands total discipline as far as not swearing, being kind and compassionate even when dealing with total stupidity, as well as showing a level of reserve, poise and composure that befits a King rather than the vulgar barbs of a peasant. However my patience is being tested arguing with an idiot online about a really sensitive topic, which is the Palestine-Israeli conflict. Now being Palestinians and having lost family members to Israeli aggression I strongly assert that the IDF and Israel by extension have committed horrible atrocities in the region, a fact that can easily be verified by watching thousands of youtube videos of IDF soldiers committing crimes openly on video, as well as the accounts of you know Palestinians living in that region, like my family. The guy I was arguing online with was trying to seriously tell me the IDF is doing nothing wrong and no matter how many facts I give showing otherwise he shrugs off everything I say smugly. No matter how many times I give facts and arguments, very rational and calm presentation of facts and arguments explaining as nicely and calmly as I can Israel's atrocities and human rights violations in the region I keep getting met with accusations of anti-Semitism, ad hominems comparing me to HITLER of all people (yes, the guy actually compared me to Hitler. Godwin's law never takes a break no matter how ironic...) as well as total dismissal of every fact I give and every reasonable point I make with 1 liners calling me anti-Semitic and hating Jews and having all my facts labeled as propaganda. Despite quoting the UN, ICC (Internal Criminal Court), human rights organizations like B'tselem, etc. I'm literally being told all the documented facts I'm giving is just propaganda without even any attempt to refute a single argument or fact I've given and having my arguments labeled as anti-Semitic propaganda and being compared to Hitler.
Mind you my DNA shows I'm 45% Jewish by Sheppardic and Ashkenazi ancestry so calling me anti-Semitic is like calling Obama anti black
Just recently I made another attempt to corroborate calmly without insulting the guy all the facts I can adduce showing and documenting unequivocal war crimes against the Palestinians, this time actually providing links and testimonies of soldiers, and after spending an hour putting together the facts I did and finding the former research on this topic I did years ago, after an hour of finding links and documentation for these crimes and abuses by the IDF I get another 1 liner having everything I said dismissed as propaganda without even a single attempt to address any of what I posted
I'm honestly at my wit's end. Even though I made an oath to go back to Islam and that entails righteous speech and not blowing up on every idiot I encounter, I'm seriously losing my patience and wrote an angry tirade cussing and cursing the guy, until I stopped myself and deleted the draft before I could send it since this is Ramadan and its supposed to be an extra sacred month and spiritual month, but im losing my patience. I'm writing this thread because even though I know not to swear and even though I know vulgar speech is dirty, especially in Ramadan, im seriously losing my patience trying to convince someone of the bare minimum, something as simple as recognizing the oppression my people face in Palestine under Israel, or even more basic just recognizing that there are crimes the IDF have committed against my people, something that basic, it feels like im arguing with a wall. At least a wall can't reject facts and call facts propaganda
This isn't even a thread asking for someone to take a side in the Palestine Israel conflict, so this isn't a PPR thread. This isn't even about having an opinion one way or another on this conflict. This is about recognizing that whatever side you take on this conflict facts are facts and when someone from a group that has suffered substantiates copious facts to show wrongdoing on the part of the iDF, dismissing all of that as propaganda and calling someone whose lost his family to the IDF as being anti-semitic and comparing me to Hitler for simply calling attention to the IDF's less than perfect track record, I dont know how much patience I can have for this without resorting to insults and barbs back
How does one deal with this type of stupidity where literal documented facts of suffering and wrongdoing done to you and your people are now dismissed as propaganda SMH
I dont want to swear and start cursing, but my patience is being worn thin dealing with this
_________________
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."
Master Oogway
If this person wants to know the truth, he/she will search the Internet and read many, many sites and come to the conclusion that convinces him/her.
You have presented information.
This person has made the choice to not believe the sites are true.
If this individual chooses to read the information and look at the accompanying pictures, he/she may change their viewpoint.
Right now, he/she does not want to listen.
_________________
Sylkat
Student Body President, Miskatonic University
My simple solution would be to log off. I don't waste my time trying to convince pinheads of my opinion. It seems they won't change their mind and it will only cost you emotional / spiritual energy at a time when your resources are limited. I know that it matters "on principle" but please put yourself first. Sometimes it's more emotionally healthy to walk away, even when your conscience wants to stand up for what's right.
At the end of the day, all that matters is your peace of mind and your relationship with Islam, not theirs.
_________________
I never give you my number, I only give you my situation.
Beatles
You can present the facts, and you can present the reasons, but you cannot make someone's decisions for them.
If this 'infidel' does not want to accept your opinions as his/her own, then you have done your part.
Go in peace.
_________________
The mere fact that science may not yet adequately explain an object, event, or experience does not mean the immediate explanation should automatically default to a conspiratorial, extraterrestrial, paranormal, or supernatural cause.
funeralxempire
Veteran
Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 41
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 34,238
Location: Right over your left shoulder
Learning to disengage from people is important. Not every argument deserves all of your attention and effort, sometimes even if you're absolutely right and can prove it there's bigger priorities in life like leaving for work on time or getting your taxes submitted before the deadline or whatever.
_________________
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.
It's a difficult lesson to learn, but deliberately stepping back and not feeding the urge to counter something does wonders for blood pressure. No swearing required.
As others have said - just walk away, and with your head held high for being the better man by doing so.
_________________
Giraffe: a ruminant with a view.
funeralxempire
Veteran
Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 41
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 34,238
Location: Right over your left shoulder
As others have said - just walk away, and with your head held high for being the better man by doing so.
Even if it leaves everyone else with the impression that you're being unfair because you chose to not engage further and they slander you this way and that. Who cares? How important is arguing with some a**hole who's wrong anyways?
_________________
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.
If this 'infidel' does not want to accept your opinions as his/her own, then you have done your part.
Go in peace.
I dont care if the guy accepts my opinions, what im angry is that he's rejecting cold facts. Facts and opinions are never the same thing. It is a fact that Palestinians have used suicide bombing as a tactic of resistance against Israel. Whether that's morally justified or not is a subjective opinion that varies based on value systems and ethical paradigms. But the fact of suicide bombing is a fact however ugly it is.
I dont give a damn if the guy I was arguing with thinks that what Israel is doing is justified moreso than im angry at him flat out denying the evidence of what Israel is doing at all, dismissing footage and archives of war crimes and human rights violations as "propaganda". It's like if you think Israel is justified in bombing Gaza or occupying the West Bank that's a more complex moral debate, but to deny Israel is even occupying the West Bank or has bombed Gaza isn't a topic of debate because its established fact
_________________
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."
Master Oogway
Thing is I know this guy well and he isn't a troll. He really has deluded himself so thoroughly that nothing I say can change his mind even when I soberly present facts that are authentic and unbiased.
_________________
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."
Master Oogway
I mean I dont think work or taxes are more important than the situation in Palestine that claimed the lives of my family, claims the lives of many Palestinians even today, is the focal point of horrible tensions between Palestinians and Israelis and by extension Muslims/Arabs and Jews, and is an ongoing humanitarian crisis that involves land theft, expungement of an entire culture from land they've occupied, and even a siege against Gaza that is one of the worst in the world.
As someone whose lost so much to this conflict I feel compelled to make a difference and convince the people of the reality of this conflict. To have failed to convince someone to at least accept basic facts makes me feel like there's no hope in resolving this conflict when even basic facts are denied and dismissed as anti-Semitic propaganda
_________________
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."
Master Oogway
At the end of the day, all that matters is your peace of mind and your relationship with Islam, not theirs.
My conscience feels like if I can at least convince one person to see the situation of the Palestinians I will have accomplished something. I feel frustrated that no amount of facts and evidence dented him as despite everything ive posted im still invariably met with the same ad hominem, the same accusations of being anti-Semitic despite having Jewish DNA myself, and having all my facts labeled as propaganda.
I'm going to a restaurant and give up on engaging the guy. Some people have their minds already made up and will never change it no matter what.
_________________
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."
Master Oogway
_________________
The mere fact that science may not yet adequately explain an object, event, or experience does not mean the immediate explanation should automatically default to a conspiratorial, extraterrestrial, paranormal, or supernatural cause.
funeralxempire
Veteran
Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 41
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 34,238
Location: Right over your left shoulder
I mean I dont think work or taxes are more important than the situation in Palestine that claimed the lives of my family, claims the lives of many Palestinians even today, is the focal point of horrible tensions between Palestinians and Israelis and by extension Muslims/Arabs and Jews, and is an ongoing humanitarian crisis that involves land theft, expungement of an entire culture from land they've occupied, and even a siege against Gaza that is one of the worst in the world.
As someone whose lost so much to this conflict I feel compelled to make a difference and convince the people of the reality of this conflict. To have failed to convince someone to at least accept basic facts makes me feel like there's no hope in resolving this conflict when even basic facts are denied and dismissed as anti-Semitic propaganda
I'm not suggesting the conflict overall is less important than one's personal priorities, I'm saying arguing with someone who doesn't care about the facts is less important than those things.
Even if you win that argument it won't directly alter any of the crimes committed so winning that argument doesn't actually contribute to improving anything for the Palestinian people.
_________________
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.
