Lost.

[TheEarl]

Joe: I've argued both for and against you. Quite often I don't understand you, and often I don't agree with you. However the fact that you're here and willing to put up the argument in the first place is credential enough to be a member of the AH. Please don't go.

The only thing I can suggest to prevent backlash is to assume that arguing is pointless. Except in extreme circumstances, no-one is going to change their POV based on what you say. Even if you have a water-tight arguement and can unequivocably prove that you are correct, people will disagree with you out of bloody-mindedness.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't argue. Just means you should be prepared for the eventuality that no-one's going to win and should expect to leave the stage with honours even.

But hey, feel free to ignore me. What do I know; I'm 3 years younger than you and therefore have far less experience of the world. I'm not qualified to comment. <Very tongue-in-cheek. Please everyone note that I'm not being vitriolic. Yet> And ignore the stuff about being human. You are human to me: on occasions you are pedantic, irritating and insufferably certain of your correctness. I like you.

The Earl

 

[oggbashan]

Youth and age

Youth doesn't equal wrong.

Age doesn't equal right.

The converse also applies.

The Earl is right - argument here is unlikely to change anyone's opinions on major issues.

I would add that the best you can hope for is a modification of another's views (or your own) as a result of understanding how and why people think differently.

Arguments about writing are different. We can and do learn from them and hope to become better writers as a result.

"Which is the best POV (Point of View)?" Answer: Whatever works best for this story.

"How should I make this sound better?" Answer: Usually helpful suggestions.

We learn from each other by interaction. Whether we change as a result of that interaction depends on us.

Og

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Speaking for myself, and intending no personal disprespect, I’ve got to think that a lot of the antipathy you engendered on this board had to do with your old Av, which showed what looked like an extremely young and insufferably smug white boy entirely pleased as hell with himself. It made all your posts seem supercilious and cocksure, and was quite irritating. I remember your post about nailing some good-looking co-ed that just made me want to slap you, and I usually don’t get those kinds of urges.

I wonder how many of us are aware of the emotional impact of our Av’s? I know Ogg’s and Weird Harold’s are unusually benign and they are well respected, and I hope that mine shows a certain slovenly 1980’s gentility, which is what I intended. I know that whenever I see an Av of a guy’s dick or a woman’s tit I tend to avert my eyes and rush past their post. Asses are okay for some reason, but I just don’t like having dicks and boobs waved in my face.

Anyhow, I predict a kinder, gentler attitude towards Joe based on your new Av, which shows a guy at least being human.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]