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Comment Threads = Energy pit
Nov. 10th, 2018 01:30 pmI've realized this way too late in life, but I've now firmly concluded that internet comment sections/threads are a massive waste of time and both emotional and intellectual energy. If one is looking to maintain their wits and any sense of emotional balance, it's probably just best to just avoid comment sections altogether.
τέχνη
UNLESS, it's a "tips of the trade" sort of online group, community or forum where people come for concrete advice on how to perform specific practical tasks. In that case, the forum in question will likely have a group of experts who are recognized as established authorities on whatever trade, discipline or hobby the forum is all about; group members will be able to easily recognize novices, noobs, wannabees and people full of shit, and easily call them out on any misinformation or unhelpful tips they attempt to assert and spread.
ἐπιστήμη + δόξα
In contrast, on forums and comment sections oriented around general and qualitative subject matter, the expert hierarchy becomes much more difficult to establish and concretely explain, because the topics usually lack any element of practical application within the context of a single individual and what they might be capable of accomplishing all on their own. In other words, who is an expert and who is a poser or faker is more based on group opinion than things that are firmly demonstrable to a non-expert. Now, by qualitative I mean subjects dealing with things like politics, religion, psychology, general life advice, ect. Forums revolving around these topics are chok full of plenty of people who think they know exactly what they are talking about, but in reality, know very little about what they feel the burning need to run their mouth about incessantly. And oftentimes, it's the people totally full of shit who are the most confident and resolute when it comes to the correctness of their opinions. Trying to argue with them is almost always a losing proposition for you, as no matter how much you might be able to poke holes in their flimsy logic or lack of relevant knowledge, they will double down and believe themselves to be even more "in the right" than when they first entered the discussion arena. When it comes to qualitative knowledge, the Dunning-Kruger effect is always something to look out for. Because it's pretty much everywhere.
γνῶσις
A little confession here: I've been there, done that. I've been both the know-it-all idiot and the person on the other end who sees the various logical fallacies being employed in service of a quick and easy ego-gratifying answer to some question. I know well know that if I'm looking to truly LEARN something, it's best to go straight to the expert and stay the hell of away from the peanut gallery, in terms of both reading and participation. Giving into the temptation to participate and show off your supposed knowledge, just feeds the beast. We now live in an era when the age-old Master/Apprentice relationship has been all-but tossed to the wolves and everyone and their grandmother fancies themselves an expert on one thing or another without having to demonstrate their knowledge or expertise. Beware of the idiots abound.
τέχνη
UNLESS, it's a "tips of the trade" sort of online group, community or forum where people come for concrete advice on how to perform specific practical tasks. In that case, the forum in question will likely have a group of experts who are recognized as established authorities on whatever trade, discipline or hobby the forum is all about; group members will be able to easily recognize novices, noobs, wannabees and people full of shit, and easily call them out on any misinformation or unhelpful tips they attempt to assert and spread.
ἐπιστήμη + δόξα
In contrast, on forums and comment sections oriented around general and qualitative subject matter, the expert hierarchy becomes much more difficult to establish and concretely explain, because the topics usually lack any element of practical application within the context of a single individual and what they might be capable of accomplishing all on their own. In other words, who is an expert and who is a poser or faker is more based on group opinion than things that are firmly demonstrable to a non-expert. Now, by qualitative I mean subjects dealing with things like politics, religion, psychology, general life advice, ect. Forums revolving around these topics are chok full of plenty of people who think they know exactly what they are talking about, but in reality, know very little about what they feel the burning need to run their mouth about incessantly. And oftentimes, it's the people totally full of shit who are the most confident and resolute when it comes to the correctness of their opinions. Trying to argue with them is almost always a losing proposition for you, as no matter how much you might be able to poke holes in their flimsy logic or lack of relevant knowledge, they will double down and believe themselves to be even more "in the right" than when they first entered the discussion arena. When it comes to qualitative knowledge, the Dunning-Kruger effect is always something to look out for. Because it's pretty much everywhere.
γνῶσις
A little confession here: I've been there, done that. I've been both the know-it-all idiot and the person on the other end who sees the various logical fallacies being employed in service of a quick and easy ego-gratifying answer to some question. I know well know that if I'm looking to truly LEARN something, it's best to go straight to the expert and stay the hell of away from the peanut gallery, in terms of both reading and participation. Giving into the temptation to participate and show off your supposed knowledge, just feeds the beast. We now live in an era when the age-old Master/Apprentice relationship has been all-but tossed to the wolves and everyone and their grandmother fancies themselves an expert on one thing or another without having to demonstrate their knowledge or expertise. Beware of the idiots abound.
