Discussion....

wil

wil

UNeyeR1
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A question....

These online forums, this online forum....

What contributes to discussion?

What detracts from it?

Do rhetorical questions and satirical responses have any place?
 
There's a time and a place for everything mate. Some things are appropriate, some things are not. Thing is, no matter what we post some bloke's not going to get it. I say, as long as you're not trying to deliberately offend anyone, don't worry about it. Speak your mind.
 
The most common element that detracts from forum discussions is that too many people forget it is not always easy to understand a post's intent because they are only words on a screen. Face to face, or even over the phone, people use so many different signals to identify their intention. You lose all of that with typed words.
 
wil said:
A question....

These online forums, this online forum....

What contributes to discussion?

What detracts from it?

Do rhetorical questions and satirical responses have any place?
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A certain openness helps a lot. An ability to listen, read others words, and not react emotionally. After all, it is practically all opinion. But Aussie is correct in that you can offend people pretty easily if they're looking to be offended. Then it's hard to withdraw your statement, because you don't even know what you did wrong. I've offended a few people in my day. I finally took an indefinite break from one forum, it seems I was responsible for such intolerance.

Most forum posters vastly overestimate their importance. I keep that in mind as well.

The main detracting factors, in my opinion, are paradigm differences and ego. With vastly different mindsets, discussion may well be nigh impossible. Same for ego ... if that's all there is ... a competition to prove who's right ... well, good luck.

There are also trigger words. Some people have triggers. Once you discover them, kindly avoid using them.
 
There are tough questions, tough topics... these will always get trying...

the question is...are we here to discuss or troll? To enlighten or ridicule? To gain knowledge or demean others?

The question I had was does sarcasm and rhetorical questions promote or derail valuable discussion?
 
wil said:
There are tough questions, tough topics... these will always get trying...

the question is...are we here to discuss or troll? To enlighten or ridicule? To gain knowledge or demean others?

The question I had was does sarcasm and rhetorical questions promote or derail valuable discussion?
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No one here wants tough questions Wil. Been down that road with zero interest, and no takers. People don't want to look at themselves, they only want to berate others....or sit around and sing "Kum-Ba-Yah." Neither of which is my preferred cuppa tea.

There's a line between trolling and sarcasm. Sarcasm can be used to piss people off enough to get involved and participate, trolling is being spiteful for the pure intent of being spiteful. Demeaning others is *never* a successful tack in conversation, but trying to get others to see themselves in what they ridicule in others is not demeaning. At least it isn't to a thoughtful, intelligent self-reflective person.

But it seems that is asking too much of 99.9% of the people out there. Sometimes it just isn't worth the bother.
 
If the purpose of an expository post is to attempt explanation or to present an idea for relevant discussion, why not? If the purpose is to mock or to make fun or instigate an argument - that is different.
 
Wil - Satire can be used as a humorous attempt at presenting an alternative. I avoid using satire because I am not good with it at all. Like many, I do at times use rhetoric. Rhetoric may invite alternative considerations for discussion. No?
 
Re #11
I knew what motivated this thread but I neither use rhetoric to ridicule nor demean and I am not a troll. I don't use satire.
Oh yes. "Little lambs eat ivy?" That was good! <hehehe> ;)
 
Does it matter? It was a new way of thinking of it, it could have engaged discussion. We don't write here because of the change we will make, but what we could make.
 
wil said:
tis true.... I did respond to spam with nonsense....
my question was...did your rhetorical question further or stall discussion?
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My intent was certainly not to stall the discussion but to cause reason to pause and think and possibly receive remarks in agreement or disagreement. It was not meant to piss you or anyone else off. btw - I pray both aloud and silent. I pray to inspire that little flame within me. It feels good and it cost nothing. Does it pay? Incidental question unless we start that thread :)
 
EdgyDolmen said:
I pray both aloud and silent. I pray to inspire that little flame within me. It feels good and it cost nothing. Does it pay? Incidental question unless we start that thread :)
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That's why I started the thread, 'For Praying Out Loud' your response above would have been better served posted there. Then, we could have explored it further.
 
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