There's too much online discussion where the topic at hand is reinvented from first principles again, and again, and again, in what can at best be described as a strenous relationship to actual reality as every debateperson is loaded with the assumption that they are imbued with the sum total of human knowledge and therefore must never read any material on anything other than other peoples posts that are also reinvented from first principles

These people should all be shamed away from participating in any discussion until they better themselves, which is what lurk moar did.

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[–] Infamousblt@hexbear.net 13 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I disagree broadly with the premise. I think it is helpful to engage in topics you know nothing about. But by engage I don't mean try to tear down or refute, I mean ask questions, and then listen to the answers. Engage by consuming and learning. Learning is good and we often learn from each other. Engagement is good as long as that engagement isn't robbing anyone of a voice but is instead amplifying that voice. Asking good faith questions and then listening to the answers is one way to do this.

[–] Maoo@hexbear.net 10 points 2 years ago

This is good advice for most people but I already know everything about everything.

[–] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago

It's fine to engage, albeit

I mean ask questions, and then listen to the answers.

is flying very close to the sun of gish gallop bullshit questions that, really, you should just google.

I'd argue this site has the concept pretty down pat. I mean there's some good souls who'd write your truthful answer as to things like "Why is blackface racist but not whiteface" or similar questions but really the appropiate answer is: there's enough written on this topic that you could just read that.

[–] goose@hexbear.net 4 points 2 years ago

I'm very much in favor of asking earnest questions.

It's comforting to see people who are interested in learning more about a subject and seek to grow as people (and as comrades)
It helps me feel empowered to ask a question that I might otherwise be embarrassed to ask
If I know the answer, it helps me organize my jumbled thoughts on the matter into a cogent response
If I think I know the answer but have trouble putting together a response, it reveals a gap in my knowledge or thinking

I do like the idea of pointing people toward previous discussions that turned out to be very helpful. Certain topics tend to follow the same path, and reading through a good discussion can scratch an itch that books or essays can't quite reach.

But even if the exact same discussion is created from whole cloth over and over, it's not a wasted effort if the people involved come out of it thinking more clearly.