What's with all the anti-Jewish stuff on this site? I can understand being anti-Israel or anti-government or anti-media, etc.

submitted by Grateful from (self.AskSaidIt)

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[–]Jac0b777 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I understand and get you.

However I'd just like to point out that a big point in giving counter arguments on the Internet is not always to change the mind of the person you're talking to, but also to impact the mind of those bystanders reading the conversation.

Not to mention that you can always simply copy and paste good counter arguments to multiple conversations, saving you time and effort.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Think of it like free labor. Who am I fighting for? And what is my benefit? Unless it's my own intellectual curiosity, and with extremists that faded years ago, I've never so much as received a thank you for steering someone away from a set of bad ideas. Most people, most of the time, are motivated by things other than reasoning and will not really be persuaded without severe motivation shifts. These are not brought about by internet arguments, but by real-world situations, circumstances, threats, or social consequences.

The fact is I do not believe reason actually does anything anymore. What's more, I do not benefit from the effort. On the contrary, I waste my time and suffer from it. If society wanted my opinion, rhetoric, research, whatever, it can fucking pay me for it. Otherwise I do a lot better doing literally anything else. So would most people, once their intellectual curiosity is satisfied. Once a thing becomes boring, there's no use to you to proceed without additional reward.

"Side? I am on nobody's side, because nobody is on my side."

[–]Jac0b777 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

OK, I understand - if you feel that these arguments (or debates) are causing you to suffer, then by all means avoid them. I feel that the expression of peaceful rhetoric designed to combat hate and fear can be a joy unto itself - by perhaps alleviating the collective pain that little bit by sharing your perspective.

But indeed that in itself has to come from a place where you find it enjoyable and stimulative (as in the joy inherent in being altruistic) - and if you don't then it is always preferable to not engage.