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Comment by izacus | Hacker News Reader

Why do you feel the need to be the devils advocate? What do you get from defending this crap?

> I think “logic lord” types are sometimes drawn to contrarian positions because they like the strong emotional reactions that stating those positions induces in other people. It gives them a smug sense that they are dispassionate and logical and everyone else is blinded by emotion.

I had saved it from some other social media type. It accurately describes a lot of HN community.

i think what a lot of people experience is frustration around group-think along the lines of "I stubbed my toe, it's someone-i-dont-like's fault". Because thinking that many of the problems with ____ group is unique to that group means that people are going to continue to miss the fact that the people they do support are also guilty of the same thing

>I think “logic lord” types are sometimes drawn to contrarian positions because they like the strong emotional reactions that stating those positions induces in other people.

Isn't that a pretty much the definition of an internet troll[0]? I don't disagree, but let's call a spade a spade, okay?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(slang)

Playing devil's advocate allows you to improve your own argument and develop strong rebuttals to the other speaker's thesis.

> Why do you feel the need to be the devils advocate? What do you get from defending this crap?

To prevent this level of monopolar partisanship.

Is this action a net-negative for ISP subscribers (i.e. everyone)? Yes.

However, this doesn't give any leeway at all in ignoring the past failures of the other side when it comes to this space either. The only (legally advisable) path left is vocal advocacy for its restoration. Doesn't matter who it is, only that this goal is to be achieved.

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Also: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

> When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. "That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3."

> Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something.

Why do you feel the impulse to reply to a question that was not addressed to you?

its an online discussion, the point is to discuss things, these aren't PMs, the nature of online discussion is anyone can jump in anywhere. i dont understand why you have a hostile tone towards this very normal and acceptable situation

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