How to Not Be an Idiot on the Internet

A Guide to Arguing Well by Paul Watson

1.       Don’t make it personal: Avoid using the word “you” in arguments wherever possible. For most people, this makes the argument personal and makes it hard for them to be objective about what you’re saying. Instead of saying “you can’t ban drugs without creating violence”, try “banning drugs creates violence”. See how it’s about the issue and not the person? Using the passive voice like this goes a long way towards keeping discussions civil.

2.       Don’t get in fights: If you’ve spent any time on the internet, you know there are people out there who just want to argue. They don’t listen, and they might attack you for no reason. Don’t respond in kind. You won’t “win” an argument with someone who is acting like this. Instead, stay on topic and discuss the issues calmly, or simply don’t respond. Anyone who reads the exchange and sees you being calm will respect you for it, and the other person will look like a petulant child by comparison.

3.       Don’t post links: Most people will not read the article or watch the video you think they just have to see. The internet is basically the biggest echo chamber ever created, and everyone has a bunch of sources to justify whatever they believe. Having links doesn’t make you special. The discussion is in the thread; make your points there. If you want to share an article or a video, mention that you have a source if they’re interested or maybe send it in a private message.

4.       Admit when you’re wrong: This earns you instant credibility. If you pretend that you’re always right, people will assume you never question your beliefs, and they will disregard your opinions as blind dogma. If you’re in a discussion and someone points out that your statistic is actually wrong or they make a convincing argument you’ve never considering before, tell them! Just the fact that you’re listening will make them ten times more likely to listen to you.

5.       Be irrefutable: Think through what you’re saying and make sure it holds up to good reasoning. Before posting, ask yourself if your logic is consistent. Go through some likely objections. Firing off a post that isn’t well thought-out will only weaken your position.

6.       Be concise: This is a good tip for all writing, and maybe the one I have the most trouble with. If you can say more with less, do it! Long blocks of text make everyone roll their eyes. You might write out a long post and think it’s all important, but there are usually tangents and points that aren’t relevant to the thread. Sometimes length is needed, but, wherever possible, keep it short.

7.       (Bonus) Don’t exemplify Godwin’s Law: Just don’t do it.