04-11-2009, 11:37 AM | #16 | |
Wizard
Posts: 4,395
Karma: 1358132
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3
|
Quote:
And even within the UK, there are a variety of social tones - Yorkshire seen as blunt speaking, the Home Counties as anally polite, and theress everything in between. I'm always impressed by the posters who don't have English as a first language - they often put the rest of us to shame. |
|
04-11-2009, 11:55 AM | #17 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,262
Karma: 35056282
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
I notice the most heated thread around here revolved around perceived absolutist statements or positions. It may not have been intended to be perceived absolutist by the writer, or it may have been intended to be perceived that way by the writer. Either way, any absolutist viewpoint is going to attract a vigorous response. The best I can perceive reality is that there is very few things that one can speak of in absolutist terms and feel that it will not draw an opposing response. Reality is far too complex and contradictory to be able to state anything with absolute certainity. In addition, making an absolutist statement implies that the person stating it is not interested in discussion, but dominance. People who discuss things on the internet tend to be a rather libertarian bunch, and do not take well to dominace attitudes. So I see it. - RSE
|
04-11-2009, 12:02 PM | #18 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 44,824
Karma: 55645321
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Peru
Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One
|
Quote:
I think you've touched upon some of the problems I perceive around the internet: The idea of dominance, one in which "my" views are absolutest; "I" am in command of the various views and here's why "I" think "my" view should be the dominant one. I should say that I find the above position grossly disagreeable. It makes me not want to know that person or that person's views. I can't imagine that kind of person having much sense of empathy or of caring, so necessary in what defines us as "human." But Harry also touched upon a reason: Some people are just rude and disagreeable by nature. Perhaps it's the way one's brain is wired. I wonder if this kind of person is normally an agreeable type, or is always so full of herself/himself that the world revolves around this type of personality. Don |
|
04-11-2009, 12:14 PM | #19 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,262
Karma: 35056282
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
Quote:
In my observation (your mileage may differ), people who are just rude and disagreeable by nature don't tend to stay in ares where they get continually ignored. People with absolutist worldviews do, in essense to proslytise(win converts - I can't spell or type worth beans), and consider the disagreement as a necessary nuisance in order to win converts to their worldview. |
|
04-11-2009, 12:26 PM | #20 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Isn't that the whole purpose of a debate, though; to put forward your viewpoint and try to convince others of the rightness of your position? I know that I've had my views modified by listening to others over the years - eg, I don't see the issue of piracy in such "black and white" terms as I used to when I first joined MR - and perhaps I may have brought a few people around to my point of view too. You win some, you lose some, as the saying goes.
|
04-11-2009, 01:16 PM | #21 |
Banned
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
|
I believe the cultural divide between Europe and America has a lot to do with recent debates, and the stances taken on both sides. Citizens of both cultures by their very surroundings have trouble understanding the mores and societal norms of the other.
As a British Citizen and a European, some of the views recently expressed in those debates are so abhorrent by European standards that it's hard not to respond in kind. But I would expect that the views that travel in the opposite direction have just as much of an effect on American citizens. The question remains, how do you heal such a cultural chasm between two distinct cultures? Can it be healed? Should it? |
04-11-2009, 01:17 PM | #22 |
curmudgeon
Posts: 1,487
Karma: 5748190
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA USA
Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500
|
I wanted to add that I've quite enjoyed disagreeing with ZeroSpinBoson and MoeJoe (on most things) and DesertGrandma and RickyMaveety (on some things). They mostly keep their cool, and respond to my blatherings with useful stuff like:
"Yes, but have you considered <problem-I-may-well-not-have-thought-of>" or "But these references <refs> say ..." and other mostly-thoughtful responses. And they don't get upset when I attempt to introduce facts into a discussion (often a total no-no on many sites). It's been a pleasure, folks. Xenophon |
04-11-2009, 01:20 PM | #23 | |
Banned
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
|
Quote:
|
|
04-11-2009, 01:20 PM | #24 | |
curmudgeon
Posts: 1,487
Karma: 5748190
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA USA
Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500
|
Quote:
Sorry. I just can't keep a straight face on this front any more. I'm not sure how to heal such a cultural chasm. But perhaps some respectful explanation (and even debate) of positions might help... Xenophon |
|
04-11-2009, 01:23 PM | #25 | |
curmudgeon
Posts: 1,487
Karma: 5748190
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA USA
Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500
|
Quote:
Xenophon |
|
04-11-2009, 01:43 PM | #26 | |
Banned
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
|
Quote:
|
|
04-11-2009, 02:01 PM | #27 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,262
Karma: 35056282
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
|
04-11-2009, 02:04 PM | #28 |
Banned
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
|
|
04-11-2009, 02:08 PM | #29 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,262
Karma: 35056282
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
|
04-11-2009, 02:08 PM | #30 |
Banned
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Free Ebook (Kindle) Compromising Positions | arcadata | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 4 | 09-15-2010 05:48 PM |
Ended PRS-505 in reasonable order £50 | WigglePig | Flea Market | 15 | 09-08-2010 04:22 AM |
A reasonable ebook publisher | calvin-c | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 4 | 01-16-2010 11:03 AM |
Could not find reasonable point at which to split | scgf | Calibre | 20 | 09-14-2009 01:19 PM |