Hey old fogies. Remember when you'd argue and you would stand your ground to the point of saying nasty things? I see a lot of young kids doing this about MP and the new drummer. I've learned over time that it's just not work fighting over stuff anymore. There is realy never a resolution. It's not like it's the end of the world. The band will go on. Same applies to arguements with the wife. I don't anymore. Too much waste of time.
I do like a good argument, but mostly because if someone disagrees with me, I honestly would like to hear why they think their view is the correct one. I
want them to convince me. I consider myself a better person if I can understand someone else's point of view, even if I don't agree with it myself.
Incredibly, my understanding of arguments comes from the Monty Python sketch commonly known as "Argument Clinic." (I'm sure it's on YouTube, find it yourself.) After Palin and Cleese go back and forth a few times with "No it isn't" "Yes it is" "No it isn't!" "Yes it is!" it's quite clear that they are not, in fact, arguing. They are simply disagreeing, and neither of them is actually trying to convince the other of anything. Neither is presenting any evidence, neither is trying to point out flaws in the other's position, nothing. Palin correctly points out that it's not an argument.
Ever listen to little kids (and some adults) "argue"? It sounds exactly like that.
"My dad can beat up your dad"
"Nuh-uh, my dad can beat up your dad"
"Nuh-uh,
my dad can beat up
your dad!"
"Nuh-uh,
MY dad can beat up
YOUR dad!"
A simple solution would be if one of them actually stated
why he thought his dad could beat up the other one's dad.
"My dad is the heavyweight champion of the state, three years running. He put four people in the hospital last year. Your dad ran away screaming from a squirrel, we all saw it."
"Oh shit."
So now I look for actual logic and conclusions when I argue.
"Seriously, explain why you think blueberry is better than strawberry."
"It just is."
"That's it? It just is?"
"Yeah. It just is."
"Not because it tastes better, or is higher in vital nutrients, or cures AIDS?"
"No, it's just better."
"You're a moron and not worth my time."