Debating Style?

[Gregster]

My personal debating style is pretty straightforward...I simply calmly and succinctly explain my position. As I am an unacknowledged expert on just about everything, and am never wrong, I rely on the shining light of my infallible brilliance to illuminate to the darkness in which those who disagree with me clumsily stumble about and...

**POW!!**

Ouch! Awright, who threw that! C'mon! Which one of ya did it?!

As far as chopping up posts and taking things out of context, that's just a rhetorical cheap shot that weakens ones position by showing that they can't do any better. Ditto turning one's replies in a collection of pithy witticisms...all it does is to demonstrate that you're a bigger smart-ass but not any smarter (or right). Although I confess I've been guilty of the latter behavior on occasion, I rarely resort to it and only do so when dealing with someone who is overbearing, arrogant, making silly arguments and grasping at straws rather than concede that anyone else even has a point or when that person adopts that tack with me (like any good Irish-American, I have an innate talent for being a wiseacre and I never, NEVER slink away from someone who wants to go a few rounds with me trading sarcastic broadsides ).

As far as color-coding or some such...matters not to me. As for the nested quotes...that can be a real pain and make things hard to follow. Sometimes, it's just easier to preface a reply with "Regarding your claim that..." or "As far as your assertion that..." to let others know what I'm referring to is much easier for me and everyone else than including the long, storied history of what is being discussed in each post.

[John D Harris]

I usually respond and quote the whole post, basicly because I'm to lazy to to the whole [ quote ] / &%$&!((&#^!^%^%$*!^%$(*!*!^!($#) Thingy. Knowing all the code stuff just takes up more brain space then I want to devote to it.

[antryg]

Originally posted by Mouse: quote: Originally posted by Donut: quote: Originally posted by Donut: quote: Originally posted by Mouse: d) Multiple nested quotes are a sign of demonic possession and when we see them, we should run screaming from the thread [img]graemlins/crazyeyes.gif[/img]

That's right![/QUOTE]It's something I've never been guilty of![/QUOTE]AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!![/QUOTE]Why did you say

AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!

[Cloudbringer]

Ok, we've had enough 'fun' with the nested quotes. FYI, Z does not like pyramids of nested quotes and they should be avoided for that reason if for no other. Besides they really are hard to follow and make a mess of the page!

Very good thread, Skywalker! It's a genuine point of interest and contention in discussions I've seen.

I tend to agree with Melusine's take on the 'chopping up' of a post to reply. Sometimes a huge post needs to be broken up so the reply is more direct and you can see what point is being answered. BUT when a person's posts are ALWAYS like that and always picking apart another's answer in miniscule detail, that's very annoying and can actually be a ploy for replying when the poster hasn't got a very good argument but wants to skew the original some way.

Personally I've done both, the reply to the whole and the breaking up of a post to reply but I avoid the latter as it's a lot of work on top of simply thinking of how I want to reply! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I find the different color for a reply is actually helpful when adressing separate sections of a post. But some of those neon blues are a bit much! [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

[ 11-28-2002, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Originally posted by skywalker: This is an observation and a question, but not a flame. It is not directed at anyone in particular. Here goes: I find it difficult to read through posts that quote other posts and have responses intercut into the quote sections or between separate ones. I usually just ignore those and go on to the next one. This style is reminiscent of the "Debating Forum" where this is done quite a lot. Quoting the paragraph and then responding in one section seems to flow better and is easier on the eyes when different colors are used. This seems to happen more on serious, hotly contested topics and not on the fun ones, of course. Am I the only one with these problem? Your thoughts are appreciated! Mark

So you don't like my posts? You know, I do it that way not to make it easier or more asthetic for you, but to make it easier for me. [img]smile.gif[/img] So chalk it up to my selfishness [img]smile.gif[/img]

Originally posted by Cloudbringer: Ok, we've had enough 'fun' with the nested quotes. FYI, Z does not like pyramids of nested quotes and they should be avoided for that reason if for no other. Besides they really are hard to follow and make a mess of the page! Very good thread, Skywalker! It's a genuine point of interest and contention in discussions I've seen. I tend to agree with Melusine's take on the 'chopping up' of a post to reply. Sometimes a huge post needs to be broken up so the reply is more direct and you can see what point is being answered. BUT when a person's posts are ALWAYS like that and always picking apart another's answer in miniscule detail, that's very annoying and can actually be a ploy for replying when the poster hasn't got a very good argument but wants to skew the original some way. Personally I've done both, the reply to the whole and the breaking up of a post to reply but I avoid the latter as it's a lot of work on top of simply thinking of how I want to reply! [img]smile.gif[/img] I find the different color for a reply is actually helpful when adressing separate sections of a post. But some of those neon blues are a bit much! [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

Seriously, I do it that way to address each issue and to keep me from getting side tracked. Especially since most of my posts are done from work, where I get frequent interuptions. However if the mods would prefer I not do this just send me a pm and I'll stop.

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by MagiK: So you don't like my posts? You know, I do it that way not to make it easier or more asthetic for you, but to make it easier for me. [img]smile.gif[/img] So chalk it up to my selfishness [img]smile.gif[/img]

I think it depends on the colour. This colour for instance I personally find more difficult to read, because it clashes with the background. Grand_Ranger's dark green I don't even try to read anymore because it's almost impossible to distinguish from the background. Brighter colours I don't mind at all. So perhaps you could make it easier for you, AND aesthetically pleasing for us by using nice bright colours [img]smile.gif[/img]

The main reason I dislike the chopping-up-posts-to-reply-to style is not because people use it to ridicule tiny unimportant sections of people's arguments, because I haven't seen people here do that often at all, although that's very common elseshere, but because it means I have to reread the original post to understand all the new points.

[Night Stalker]

Just a quick note on the color thing. Not all colors are meant to go together!
I happen to be partially color blind. Yes I can see and identify colors, but I can never find the number in those stupid dots (it's a conspiracy to drive me mad I tell you!!! and if you can "see" the numbers - you're part of the conspiracy! heheh ). Anyway certain color combinations have a tendancy to seriously screw with my depth perception and give me a headache. This is why they mention in web design (or graphic arts in general) to avoid certain contrasts. Red over blue is one for example. Magik, your current choice of color is another. The magenta was better.

Not trying to nit pick on peoples style too much, but I enjoy reading everyone's opinion, and I'd actually like to READ everyone's opinion.

[skywalker]

MagiK, I am not entirely focused on you or your posts. This was not posted to single anyone out and I mentioned no names. It may be true that I do skip past some of your posts, but I do so with others, too. You make it sound like I have some sort of vendetta against you...I do not.

I also see the smileys in your first response to the opening post and I understand you are kidding. I also know you like to agitate me so I guess I should just let it pass. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Mark

[skywalker]

Originally posted by Aelia Jusa The main reason I dislike the chopping-up-posts-to-reply-to style is not because people use it to ridicule tiny unimportant sections of people's arguments, because I haven't seen people here do that often at all, although that's very common elseshere, but because it means I have to reread the original post to understand all the new points.

That's exactly why I pass over these kinds of posts. Time can be tight and reading stuff twice to get the gist is sometimes not feasable, I just skip 'em.

Mark