That doesn't make you an expert.

[angledge]

I'll admit, I'm a slow learner. Despite having been online since the early days of Usenet, I still haven't learned that arguing with people on the internet is absolutely pointless.


As usual, xkcd nails it.

I do try to limit the scope of my stupidity, however, by only engaging here & there. This week, I've been "in conversation" with a internet-only friend on Facebook. She is outraged by the "thugs" & "punks" protesting in Baltimore, & truly incensed by Lil Wayne's disrespect for the American flag. I have been trying to point out that the people in Baltimore have a lot of legitimate grievances that haven't been addressed when they tried more normal forms of protest, & that while I don't like seeing someone trash the American flag, they have every right to do it.

My friend's very conservative, right-wing rebuttals have usually included references to the facts that members of her family have been police officers &/or served in the US armed forces. She feels that this gives her a special understanding of these situations, or perhaps she feels it gives her feelings more priority. I feel that, in reality, it's almost the opposite. Having family that were police doesn't make you an expert on civil rights - in fact, you probably have an emotional bias in favor of the police that you should consider when you are responding to these stories. Having family that served in the military doesn't give you particular insight into the First Amendment - in fact, you might have an emotional bias regarding our national symbols that you should consider when you are responding to these images.

I too have family that served in the US armed forces. My grandfather fought in WWII as a Seabee, my uncle went to Vietnam, my cousin was a Marine. But their experiences are THEIRS - they don't lend me any righteous patina or extra patriotism. And even if it did, it doesn't make me an expert on Baltimore, race relations, civil rights, or the freedom of speech.

Maybe it's time to stop arguing with people on the Internet for a while.

Comments

[chaosvizier.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, the Internet. You never fail to disappoint by helping us reach the lowest common denominator together.

This is pretty much why I almost never post or comment seriously on anything on the internet. It always ends in tragedy.

And, as an irrelevant side point, you're listening to Sting, which is always the right answer. Hail Sting!

[krick.livejournal.com]

People like that exist in real life too, not just on the Internet, unfortunately. Also in the opposite political direction as well. There's a guy that I work with who I like and respect very much. He's extremely liberal, which isn't normally a problem. However, he has an irrational reaction to any discussion involving guns. He doesn't see the point in anyone owning a gun for any reason including for sport and is actively against gun rights of any kind. He has a bumper sticker on his car that says "Melt The Guns". I'm sure, given the chance, he'd do away with the 2nd amendment in a heartbeat. He's irrational to the point that you can't have a discussion with him and even hold a centrist opinion about gun rights. It's best to completely avoid the subject and just nod and keep your mouth shut when he brings the subject up.