On: What's missing in reddit/digg: a way to see which side won an argument in discussions

[run4yourlives]

"Winning an argument is like winning at the Special Olympics. Sure you won, but you're still retarded."

[Goladus → run4yourlives]

This comment is no more funny or insightful than it was 5 years ago. Worse, it discourages positive contributions as well as negative.

[nostrademons → Goladus]

Positive contributions usually don't spark arguments. Even if they're controversial or unpopular, they tend to spark discussion instead.

[Goladus → nostrademons]

I disagree, and I also think the line between argument and discussion is rather blurry; especially in text-based communication.

One of the most interesting threads I've read lately was that one where Walter Bright posted a comment about D in a thread bashing C++ programmers. His post was attacked by a few others, and the resulting argument was very interesting.

I think this is the thread: http://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/git/2007/9/7/257355

Though I don't have time to find the specific chain of comments.

[euccastro → Goladus]

I think there is an inverse relationship between positive attitude and eagerness to win arguments.