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Opinions on the Internet. A complete waste of time?

  • 26-09-2013 11:16PM
    #1
    Savoir.Faire
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 326 ✭✭


    Opinions are everywhere on the Internet. Cranks firing out gibberish in the vain hope that someone will agree with them.

    If it isn't a blog, it's someone getting angsty on a message board, forum or chatroom. Asking for links, quotes and references to topics they've taken as an online hobby horse. Arguing back and forth with other online strangers.

    Abortion, the choice of beer, Enda Kenny's smile, cutting turf, atheism vs agnosticism vs theism; fast food venues, fapping off to porn.

    Does it matter? Do the posters in AH think that expressing their opinion on this forum makes a difference? Is there a relevancy to engaging in discussions. Does signing on to boards, politics.ie, the journal etc make a genuine difference?

    There is no implied irony.


«13

Comments

  • #2
    Cork24
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,663 ✭✭✭Cork24


    So and your on boards for ?


  • #3
    Bipolar Joe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,443 ✭✭✭Bipolar Joe


    Who cares? Welcome to the Internet.


  • #4
    Femme_Fatale
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,628 ✭✭✭Femme_Fatale


    Definitely makes no difference on Facebook/TheChurnal/Politics.ie but at least there is some intelligence here and people get called out on bullsh1t.


  • #5
    Frosty McSnowballs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,396 ✭✭✭Frosty McSnowballs


    I've saved countless kids lives by "liking" stuff on Facecreep.

    I should have at least two medals by now....and a small town named after me in Offally


  • #6
    Temptamperu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,303 ✭✭✭Temptamperu


    I never use it.


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  • #7
    DarkJager
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,960 ✭✭✭DarkJager


    Savoir.Faire wrote: »
    Opinions are everywhere on the Internet. Cranks firing out gibberish in the vain hope that someone will agree with them.

    If it isn't a blog, it's someone getting angsty on a message board, forum or chatroom. Asking for links, quotes and references to topics they've taken as an online hobby horse. Arguing back and forth with other online strangers.

    Abortion, the choice of beer, Enda Kenny's smile, cutting turf, atheism vs agnosticism vs theism; fast food venues, fapping off to porn.

    Does it matter? Do the posters in AH think that expressing their opinion on this forum makes a difference? Is there a relevancy to engaging in discussions. Does signing on to boards, politics.ie, the journal etc make a genuine difference?

    There is no implied irony.

    Who cares about making a difference? It's an Internet forum for debate, not the UN.


  • #8
    Uriel.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,059 ✭✭✭Uriel.


    You ask, "does it matter"? in my view, no it really doesn't. Ultimately it probably is a waste of time, if debate is the sole motivator and sole benefit.

    However, purposes are served and benefits derive including awareness (Self and societal), stress relief (airing your points), education/knowledge increase, fun.


  • #9
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 12,673 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.” ― Harlan Ellison


  • #10
    Merkin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,230 ✭✭✭Merkin


    I think for most people it's a platform for discussing inane sh1te tbh.


  • #11
    Muise...
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,512 ✭✭✭Muise...


    It makes a difference to me when I read something witty and smile at the screen like it's a gambolling lamb.

    aw, úanín :)


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  • #12
    hansfrei
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭hansfrei


    Need to express myself via online bolloxology. Before the internet is ruined by liberals, loons and corporations.


  • #13
    Peregrine
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,424 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    It would make a lot more difference on boards than politics.ie and thejournal.ie.

    Most politics.ie users seem to be indoctrinated since childhood and won't look at a different point of view no matter what.

    Meanwhile, it would be more suited if thejournal.ie users write their comments in crayon.

    You get a fair mix of those and some normal people on boards though.


    Anyway, that's just my opinion.


  • #14
    Seachmall
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭Seachmall


    Christ, not even 30 days and you're having a breakdown.


    Some people just aren't cut out for the internet.


  • #15
    Mr. CooL ICE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,062 ✭✭✭✭Mr. CooL ICE


    How else will I waste my time? By doing something productive? Sheesh


  • #16
    kumate_champ07
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    DarkJager wrote: »
    Who cares about making a difference? It's an Internet forum for debate, not the UN.
    because the UN really makes a difference, it has about as much influence as the Pope asking for world peace at Christmas


  • #17
    Squishsquosh
    Site Banned Posts: 4 ✭Squishsquosh


    It's somewhere for people to waste precious time validating their ego and to take pleasure in confronting offensive comments and opinions. The ego and it's corresponding pain body loves nothing else but to feed off other egos and their associated pain body. People are literally addicted to offending each other, it's what the ego needs to survive.


  • #18
    lahalane
    Closed Accounts Posts: 954 ✭✭✭lahalane


    But we offer opinions in real life too and know it wont make a difference...


  • #19
    Savoir.Faire
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 326 ✭✭Savoir.Faire


    artanevilla wrote: »
    “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.” ― Harlan Ellison

    This is the type of thing I'm on about. It's a quote selected from a spurious source. It has no great relevance to the topic being discussed. It's debate based upon having access to google.

    It's not a pot shot, but a relevant example (amongst many) of what I'm trying to talk about. Is debating on the Internet fundamentally different to what would happen in real life?


  • #20
    Karl Stein
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,687 ✭✭✭Karl Stein


    Squishsquosh wrote: »
    It's somewhere for people to waste precious time validating their ego and to take pleasure in confronting offensive comments and opinions. The ego and it's corresponding pain body loves nothing else but to feed off other egos and their associated pain body. People are literally addicted to offending each other, it's what the ego needs to survive.

    Reported.

    I find this very offensive.


  • #21
    Legs.Eleven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,987 ✭✭✭Legs.Eleven


    For me it passes the time and puts shape to my thoughts. I never had an opinion on half of the stuff I debate on here until I'm actually mid-typing it.


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  • #22
    Savoir.Faire
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 326 ✭✭Savoir.Faire


    lahalane wrote: »
    But we offer opinions in real life too and know it wont make a difference...

    Absolutely. But are opinions expressed with the same integrity in 'real life'? Or is the Internet just a place to reveal the type of opinions that you wouldn't say to friends/families/drinking buddies?

    Does the concept of anonymity bring out the worst in people (or perhaps the best)?


  • #23
    lahalane
    Closed Accounts Posts: 954 ✭✭✭lahalane


    Savoir.Faire wrote: »
    Absolutely. But are opinions expressed with the same integrity in 'real life'? Or is the Internet just a place to reveal the type of opinions that you wouldn't say to friends/families/drinking buddies?

    Does the concept of anonymity bring out the worst in people (or perhaps the best)?
    Maybe...Im the same on here as in real life...but of course Id say that.


  • #24
    Femme_Fatale
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,628 ✭✭✭Femme_Fatale


    Savoir.Faire wrote: »
    Absolutely. But are opinions expressed with the same integrity in 'real life'? Or is the Internet just a place to reveal the type of opinions that you wouldn't say to friends/families/drinking buddies?

    Does the concept of anonymity bring out the worst in people (or perhaps the best)?
    Well behaviour is shaped by your environment. You behave differently in e.g. the cinema to how you behave in the pub, so yeh, online is bound to bring out another dimension to someone's personality. Plus you wouldn't tend to meet people in real life with extreme views the way you encounter them all the time on the internet, so you're not going to be debating as much outside of the 'net. That doesn't necessarily mean you're fake online, just a different version of yourself.


  • #25
    darkpagandeath
    Closed Accounts Posts: 24,461 ✭✭✭✭darkpagandeath


    I remember a phrase about arguing over the internet ... dam I've just lost it


  • #26
    rolliepoley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,871 ✭✭✭rolliepoley


    Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »
    I've saved countless kids lives by "liking" stuff on Facecreep.

    I should have at least two medals by now....and a small town named after me in Offally



    Welcome to Senor Fancy Pants.


  • #27
    Frosty McSnowballs
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,396 ✭✭✭Frosty McSnowballs


    rolliepoley wrote: »
    Welcome to Senor Fancy Pants.

    "Population....1 at a time"


  • #28
    B.A._Baracus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,309 ✭✭✭✭B.A._Baracus


    I think there is no harm in talking about things on here. Problem is a certain number of people cannot say "I disagee with You" - but say "YOU'RE WRONG! YOU ARE A THICK AND WRONG! I'M RIGHT" ... and that's where things get messed up.


  • #29
    StewartGriffin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,284 ✭✭✭StewartGriffin


    Squishsquosh wrote: »
    It's somewhere for people to waste precious time validating their ego and to take pleasure in confronting offensive comments and opinions. The ego and it's corresponding pain body loves nothing else but to feed off other egos and their associated pain body. People are literally addicted to offending each other, it's what the ego needs to survive.


    As the Buddha broke free from the Samsara of the clinging and grasping of the ego, we will never be truly free unless we transcend from Boards.ie

    ;)


  • #30
    Tiddlypeeps
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,103 ✭✭✭Tiddlypeeps


    Sometimes it's fun to debate with others.

    Other times I have a response to someone typed up all lovely and stuff and then I just think to myself, what's the point, I'm never gonna change that persons view so I just close the page and wander off somewhere else for the day. Depends on the mood I'm in :)


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  • #31
    pharmaton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,192 ✭✭✭pharmaton


    I have a hurty eye


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