I’ve seen many cases here on Stacker News where people with different opinions end up insulting each other. It’s perfectly normal to have differing views on many topics. But if someone else has a different opinion, why should I insult them?
What’s more - and even worse - I see people here (I won’t mention names) who, after arguing once about a specific topic, continue to insult each other in unrelated comments that have nothing to do with the original discussion.
I don’t understand this. I know we’re all human and don’t like it when others oppose our views. However, why should I attack and insult someone just because they disagree with me?
I think it's just a matter of an unhealthy egoism!
Someone is wrong on the internet?
Oh snap, never thought of that! Maybe that's why my Stack Overflow question never got answered
life is social engineering all the way down
"Poor people work with their hands, the middle class work with their heads, and rich people work with their mouths"
Wiiiiisdom
Honestly, I'm the only person I've ever met that's never been wrong, so I'm not surprised.
DarthCoin is also never wrong
Ok, that's actually fair.
I know that, but why? Why do people have such a strong desire to prove themselves right on the internet?
It's the anonymity and safety. There's no chance you'll get punched in the mouth.
bitcoin fixes this
How?
It's a sign of insecurity. Sometimes it's also a matter of things being misinterpreted during a tense argument and then an escalatory spiral. Text-based communication is easy to misconstrue, especially with people from so many different cultures.
I actually take the other side, though. Rapid escalation to name calling is the norm online. However, I've had many civil disagreements with people on Stacker News. Sometimes, one of us even changed their mind. How neat is that?
Agreed.
I'm glad to hear that. Are these "civil disagreements" something normal for you here, or are they exceptions to the rule?
In terms of disagreements, I'd say most are civil, but most conversations don't even generate disagreements.
You won't get straight answer from those you are referring too. It escalates really quicky if you have negative opinion of Bitcoin or mention another cryptocurrency.
But it's not normal. We live in a free society where people are free to express their opinions. We don't live in a Communist or Nazi era, where you weren't allowed to say what you wanted to say.
Evolutionary psychology suggests that it’s a way of expressing our connections with our group, helping to clarify who belongs to 'us' and who might be considered 'them.'
Once those battle lines are drawn, it's hard to redraw them despite evidence to the contrary.
the title is misleading
it's not about differing opinions as it is about insults or lack of civility
"A man who has been hit by a libel will not be angry. He will be angry if he is hit by a satire."
GK Chesterton
The whole problem starts with different opinions.
It has a lot to do with having conversations online vs in person. Those types of conversations rarely if ever happen in person.
Is it easier to change someone's opinion in person?
In person conversations are generally more civil but not alway
Why do you have "to change someone's opinion in person?"
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