Idea
The Pun Tyrant
Hardly different from an IRL argument, other than people being unable to get physical, while allowing more unhinged/extreme opinions to come to light (for better or for worse).How would you describe internet arguments?
Whether they are productive depends mostly on the disposition of the arguing parties, whether they are arguing with genuine intent to understand each other's viewpoint and refine their own, or just trying to defend their own viewpoint. Nonetheless, there is worth in the possiblity of allowing outside spectators to at least see the other viewpoint.
They do tend to, however, drag on and consume way too much of my time when I get into one. I do persist for a while as I respond, but when things turn into a battle of endurance, a dog pile or if it gets to the point where I can respond to everything someone else says just by quoting my previous posts, I seek to abandon that argument.
Edit: I also find engaging with an opinion you find wrong to be more respectful than simply saying "you do you" as a default, since such a position is more dismissive rather than taking the other opinion as a serious contender for the truth.