Is Internet debate ridiculous and irrelevant?

**idleidolidyll** · 27th October 2007, 11:34

I reckon not.

Yes, some people will always use the internet to just play or to abuse without any legitimate rational discussion but, importantly IMO, the internet allows people to say things they might feel unable to say in public because of censorship, the threat of violence or intimidation and a host of other reasons.

the debates do get quite testy at times but here are a lot of honest posts here that many would not offer in public. Just having these ideas aired and debated is valuable. It opens the eyes of the ignorant and challenges bigots.

Disagree or agree, internet chat is valuable.

**idleidolidyll** · 27th October 2007, 11:37

excellent!

100% of people so far agree with me.

**MSTRS:Me** · 27th October 2007, 11:51

Useful. Free and frank conversation can only be a good thing. It can change some peoples' attitudes.
And prat confirmation is a good thing.

**James Deuce** · 27th October 2007, 12:31

Internet debate is usually made up of opinions. Opinions have no value.

**idleidolidyll** · 27th October 2007, 12:39

Originally Posted by idleidolidyll

excellent!

100% of people so far agree with me.

bugger! i knew it wouldn't last!

**MSTRS:Me** · 27th October 2007, 12:49

Originally Posted by Jim2

Internet debate is usually made up of opinions. Opinions have no value.

Oi you. Mine does.

**idleidolidyll** · 27th October 2007, 12:54

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Oi you. Mine does.

mines the most valuable one i know!

**Toaster** · 27th October 2007, 13:00

Why not... nothing wrong with expressing opinions - being different from each other makes debate interesting. It would be as boring as a dry turd sandwich if we were all the same...

... and at least we can have a laugh at ourselves and eachother in good humour as we go.

**Drew** · 27th October 2007, 13:04

I think it can be usefull, but often isn't. KB is a classic example, where somebody gets thier back up at the opinion of another, and the contraversial voice gets pd'd and infracted. just look at that stupid depression thread, those of us who dont suffer from the imbalance, but very well might be right in what we say have our posts deleted within seconds. That is not debate, it's whinging.

**merv** · 27th October 2007, 13:04

At least you aren't so one-eyed these days!

**HenryDorsetCase** · 27th October 2007, 13:08

Meh.

I like kittens.

**Drew** · 27th October 2007, 13:09

Originally Posted by merv

At least you aren't so one-eyed these days!

Please direct me with a link to any post of mine that is one eyed. I resent the implication. MODS!!! Where's a mod when ya need one. I FEEL MY POINT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSED, I DEMAND ACTION!!! I couldn't possibly try to reword anything to make it clear what I'm trying to impress, that would be too much like a real conversation, or debate.

**idleidolidyll** · 27th October 2007, 13:09

Originally Posted by merv

At least you aren't so one-eyed these days!

that's me in the Gobi desert on a chinese tv series set.

as a chinese speaking 'big nose' i was asked to play 4 parts in the series

the chinese AK was the real thing but the soldiers weren't far away either and they wouldn't let me have ANY bullets

**The Pastor** · 27th October 2007, 14:47

Internet debate is getting pwnt from the goverment.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5221813

One, two three, k3v is going to get doverd.

**Mekk** · 27th October 2007, 15:09

I think there needs to be a "sometimes it's valuable and useful" option. I'm not too keen on lumping all internet debate into a valuable and useful category after reading some of the bollocks in PD. On the other hand not all of it is PD, so yeah...I'm in the middle.

Most of the time it's banter that you can have from any pub after work or around the watercooler.