Is the comment “you’re a troll” an intelligent rebuttal to an argument you disagree with?
Is the comment “you’re a troll” an intelligent rebuttal to an argument you disagree with?
No. It is name-calling.
If you read any of my answers, I pull no punches. I am, however, as aggressive, precise, and absolute as I can be in order to provoke a reaction from readers. Sometimes, people want to argue. And, I want to test my hypotheses. So the conflict can be a win-win. But, it is only worth debating those individuals that will make the effort to understand my argument, and have, in some way, found fault with it. Most times, the people I hear from have merely had their fight or flight response invoked. Very little is gained from their reaction. But, I tolerate it nevertheless, because I value these individuals still.
On Quora, if either of the following happens:
- The responder does not make statements that have convinced me that they have attempted to (or understand) my argument; or …
- They name-call.
I firmly, but politely move on. It’s the only way.
If I don’t, I recognize that I am being trolled. But I don’t need to tell them that. Yet, this is what their emotions have accomplished. They have picked a fight (fight or flight) with me outside of reason. Therefore, I just let them have the last word and move on. I take comfort in that they have found no holes in my hypotheses. I recognize that this is all I get. I will not, at that moment, convince them of anything.
Neither should you.
Most times, individual argument arises from emotion. Yes, this is terribly exhausting. One can tell when it is happening because there is gratuitous name-calling in support of their position. Yet still, I move on. Silence is a message they hear … but only later. Emotionally immature thinkers are machine learning thinkers. They do not reason. They instead learn with lots of data. They DO NOT learn with argument. So be patient.
Nevertheless, it is sometimes helpful to shame the irrational. You had better do it well, however. I find that you must attack their reply in such a way that it illustrates their emotionality and irrationality without a personal attack upon them personally. Then, I let them have the last word and move on. It sinks in. I promise. They will not come back. I have experienced it. For example, I confidently leave Quora’s reply enabled.
Here’s one of my shaming memes:
You see. No name-calling. But their brain knows. It is embarrassing because they know no point was made with their “fight or flight” reply. They are shamed. Machine learners grow this way. Children also learn this way.
In time, these individuals will mature. And we will enjoy and welcome their thinking then.
Until then, you must be above it all.
