Overwhelming Urge To Argue With Bigots

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I have a perpetual chip on my shoulder. I always have an urge to see bigots get owned, or to do the owning myself. That's why whenever there's a discussion going on on some internet forum concerning gay rights and some blowhard bigot is arguing on the "anti" side, I always have a strong urge to jump in and argue with this person myself, especially if I feel that the other commentators are not doing a well enough job at arguing with this person. I shouldn't do it - I should just let bigots be bigots - but I feel a strong sense of indignity and I feel that I must defend myself.

that's why I write letters to the editor. it's hard to leave "stupid" alone.

Well, we need people like you, because not all of us are good at it. I always end up sounding/looking wrong even when I am not wrong (not necessarily concerning gay rights) usually because I'm not confident enough.

Bigots are bigots. They don't care about lack of logic in what they say. So usually there is no point in trying to logically argue against them.

Edited - grammatical mistake

I'd LOVE to have you on my side on arguments then! I have the strong urge to want to confront bigots too, but I just can't confront people. And if I do, I end up looking stupid and losing the argument. Because it seems like the bigots have Soooooo much hate that they seem to find all sorts of points to back up their hate. And one should never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience!

Oh, my God, yes!

Arguing with these people is kind of like punching a brick wall - it will do nothing to the wall and end up breaking your hand in the process. Religious fundamentalists and other right-wing Christians have this supreme arrogance about them. I've argued with plenty of them, and they are so infuriatingly arrogant that I have to bite my tongue to keep from verbally assaulting them. You can throw all the scientific facts at them as you want, but they'll only end up dismissing it all as some liberal conspiracy and insist that their interpretation is correct. It has to take some special kind of mental fortitude to be that ignorant.

Last edited by Descartes on 25 Feb 2013, 12:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

It's funny how much they think they are right about. I myself might not agree with someone, but I don't try my damnedest to beat them over the head with it until it sinks in. Yeah now a days it seems almost worst than the 50's. While things progress....things also regress.

Yeah, I can relate to this. I've been arguing for same-sex marriage on different sites, but particularly on Facebook. Damn, you get some stubborn resistance! Most people I can refute with facts (having a reasonably high IQ helps). Some people I actually enjoy discussing issues with, even if we disagree.

And then you get some people who just DESERVE to be smacked down.

I'll admit that while same-sex marriage is a hot-button topic, it's hardly the most important fight that the LGBTQ community has on its hands. Discrimination exists in many forms, but every bit of alleviating ignorance and fear helps. It's been a hard slog thus far, and it will continue to be for some time. At least we've made an awful lot of progress, especially in the last 10 years.

Just remember to be persistent, state your position clearly without getting too sidetracked and be prepared to back up what you say with hard facts. And be civil: no matter how much you want to yell at someone to "shut the f*ck up!", they're not going to turn around and say "okay, you're right, I'll shut up now".

Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. It's the only reason we've made as much progress as we have. There will always be people who appreciate your efforts and persistence.

Why?

I think it's a good thing to challenge bigotry where you see it, as long as you don't go out looking to be offended.

I've had maybe one or two people actually listen when I argue with them over this sort of thing. My argument tends to basically be that they didn't wake up one morning and weigh up whether they wanted to be straight or gay or whatever, and neither did anyone else. It has worked, as I said, a few times, but usually they're too stubborn to listen to even that. People don't go on the internet to express opinions and learn from others' for the most part, they just go there to shout their opinions and all others fall on deaf ears.

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him." -- Attributed to Solomon the Wise (Pro 26:4, NIV)

"Never argue with an idiot, because no one will be able to tell the two of you apart." -- Attributed to Will Rogers, Cowboy Philosopher