E: Drawing Agg

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Updated Fri, Feb 13, 2009 by Darkgolem

Drawing Agg

How to Assure Your Being Ignored in the Forums

By Darkgolem

I have a ignore list when I write in the forums. Why? Because the people who write this way in forums are downers. They find it necessary to demoralize and demean in the process of writing their points. That being the case, I bring to the table a list of ways to assure your on my list, or (call me crazy) you could avoid these things, assuring that your thoughts and comments are heard.

Tone Is Important.

Remember that your words do not express a single thought, but multiple separate thoughts at once. You need to choose your words in such a way that they belittle those who have disagreed with you. Your views will be more likely to be agreed with if you make sure that those who dissent with your views look bad.

For example, instead of writing “I don't think that your take on web spells are correct, because web affects so many different types of opponents”, write “It's obvious to any noob that web is very useful, because it affects so many different types of opponents." This presents many thoughts at once; first, that you think web is better than presented by the person who said otherwise, second, that the other person is dumber than a noob, since it should be obvious to a noob, and (bonus!) it insults new players, since it implies noobs are foolish or stupid. This is very efficient with your time.

If Something Is Worth Writing, It Is Worth Exaggerating

It makes your point more valid by exaggerating. Don't go too far,

just whenever using words like sometimes, instead use words or phrases such as all the time. Instead of saying something is powerful, say it's almost the most powerful. Qualify your exaggerations so that if someone points out that your exaggerating, you can point at your qualification and say they misunderstood.

Another example:

“Lightning spells are very powerful spells in the game, since they are not often resisted, and you can get lightning rods at 4th level to make them tougher.”

Why just go there, instead write:

“Lightning spells are overpowered in a huge way. First, almost nothing resists them and you can always get a lighting rod to buff it from balanced to overpowered in no time.”

Note that if someone comments that there are creatures that resist lightning, I could say “I said almost”, and if someone says that a lightning spell used with a lightning rod isn't overpowered, you can say it's opinion (since balanced and overpowered are objective statements). This way you can turn your viewpoints into accurate views, and other peoples objections or view points into inaccurate views using other points in this article.

Size Does Matter

Never make small arguments. If your repeat yourself, you actually can make your point more valid. The trick with this is to repeat yourself in different ways. Don't just say something with a simple statement, but instead accentuate different points of the same complete thought in different sentences. This way, you accomplish two goals.

First, people will tend to read only part of your posts, and assume they have the gist of your views from that. When they comment, read the comment closely, and if they miss or misconstrue something you wrote, use this to invalidate their whole point (if it disagrees). This turns what might be considered a weakness in your writing (that is, making your posts boring) into a strength.

Second, by writing more, as long as your arguments are not completely repetitive, but use different ways of saying the say points, you actually can fool those who are not attentive into thinking your views are different. Some assume that by having multiple takes on the same subject, your views are more valid. Even better, some people don't have the time to answer long responses point by point, and if they fail to answer, you can assume that they agree with you.

Never Surrender

Think of any different viewpoint as an attack upon you as a person. Don't respond this way, but instead use the other points in this article to defend yourself. Remember that you are always right, and if you admit error in one point or another of your argument, what your actually doing is giving them a way to show that all your points are wrong. That is, they can say that since your admitting error in one point, this implies your wrong in all your points.

This allows you to “win” your argument, which of course is the point. As long as you don't admit any errors, if and when your opponent should get tired of arguing with you, after a little while you can refer to their failure to answer as an admission of defeat. That is, if one poster doesn't answer your repeated rebuttals, you can refer to this as a sign that the poster admitted he or she was wrong.

Take This Thread to Cuba!

If you must, divert a thread from it's original point to another, thereby giving you leverage later. Here's how it works. First, find something a poster who disagrees has written that is inaccurate. If doesn't matter if the inaccuracy is something you can

prove, as long as your response seems reasonable and it can't be clearly disproved.

In your response post, don't answer the point the other poster had, but instead comment on their inaccuracy.

Try to use a slightly more sophisticated tone in your writing here. It gives a feeling of superiority to your writing, regardless of the accuracy of it. This not only makes your writing seem more authoritative, it insults the poster you are correcting. If your poster should respond in a negative tone (since you insulted him), you can keep up the mature tone, eventually getting the moral high ground.

If the other poster should respond about your correction, turn the thread to arguing the new subject for a while. Once the other poster gives up, respond to your original point, in such a way that implies that since no one has commented on your original point, it's obvious that you are correct.

Now You've Won!

By using these techniques, if applied correctly, you show that you're a better person, because you have won your argument, regardless if objectively you are right or wrong. Bask in the enjoyment of your victory. And above all things, remember the golden rule of forum writing. If all else fails, and someone gives you a hard argument, say that they are not willing to discuss points, and compare them to a World War 2 dictator.

Like to comment (and yes, we moderate our forums), come here to our forums!

Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

E: Drawing Agg

Drawing Agg

How to Assure Your Being Ignored in the Forums

Tone Is Important.

If Something Is Worth Writing, It Is Worth Exaggerating

Size Does Matter

Never Surrender

Take This Thread to Cuba!

Now You've Won!

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