The Eight-Fold Path of TV-Humiliation

[Forethat]

I have followed a couple of topics the past weeks and I have made a couple of observations regarding TV-posters and their reluctance to admit being wrong. I wondered what the cause was and started to dig a little. I could never find out why posters in general refuse to admit being wrong, even on an anonymous forum, but I concluded that every situation where there is a difference in opinion (whether factual or not) leads to at least one poster ending up humiliating himself by entering one or more of the phases described below.

Moderators:

Please note that this is not an attempt to stir up something. I only wanted to highlight what is generally (in my perception) the most common breach of written and unwritten rules. If posters realise that by behaving this way they actually only humiliate themselves. If posters would refrain from ending up in one of the eight phases below, I am confident TV would be a more fun place.

OK, here it goes; the eight phases of a humiliating TV poster meltdown:

1. Phase one. The simplest way of refusing to admit being wrong. Run away after realising you posted something that was completely wrong but tried to make it look like you had a clue, and leave the others to discuss whatever it was. Dont post in that topic again. At least you're not digging the whole any deeper and hopefully it'll all be forgotten in a weeks time.

2. Phase two. Accuse other posters of being “trolls”. This generally means that the poster subject to your accusations caused some sort of revelation. “That CANT be true, you MUST be a troll!”

3. Phase three. Ask completely irrelevant questions about the opposing posters personal life. "How many children do you have?”, "are you a Danish lawyer?", usually accompanied by accusing the opposing poster for dodging these completely irrelevant questions and disqualify his future posts by claiming he refused to answer; therefore he must have something to hide or is not qualified to have an opinion.

4. Phase four. Time for hidden invectives and minor insults. These insults tend to be subjective or indirect in their kind; “Have you taken your medicine yet?” Generally, the insults are seldom accompanied by any arguments that actually contributes to the topic.

5. Phase five. Make remarks about a posters spelling or English language skills (which in all fairness was never relevant).

6. Phase six. Direct insults and name-calling. “Bigot”, "Idiot", “Pedophile” are examples of this. Other examples are claims that the opponent suffers from various mental conditions, like "Narcissism".

7. Phase seven. Announce to have put a poster on your Ignore-list. You have now realised your complete and utter lack of knowledge; your incorrect gibberish and embarrassing attempts to defend yourself is on public display and in a last attempt to preserve whatever credibility you think is left (actually, by now there is NONE), you turn to the ultimate refuse-to-admit-being-wrong-trick and post something like "OK, you are now on my Ignore-list" to make it look like you don’t read your opponents posts anymore. All in an attempt to make everything go away without having to admit being wrong, only to minutes later continue to post and meet the ignored posters arguments directly or indirectly, confirming that you are in fact reading every single post made by the "ignored" poster.

8. Phase eight. Log in using your secret second, third or fourth backup account in order to “like” your own posts to make it look like there are others who share your view.

I could have missed a phase. If so, please feel free to add your own.

[NBD]

Good luck with the job hunting...

[chrisinth]

This should be interesting, this has been up for an hour with only one reply.

Wonder how many will be defensive with offensive criticism..........................

Careful where you are walking, the floor could be littered with rattles, dummies & teddies soon.

[Travel2003]

Guessing we all one time or another have been guilty in regards to at least one of these things.

[impulse]

Is it okay to jump around?

Or do I have to go through all the phases sequentially?

I at least want to get being a Richard head right 'cause I can't seem to get anything else right.

[Forethat]

Is it okay to jump around?

Or do I have to go through all the phases sequentially?

I at least want to get being a Richard head right 'cause I can't seem to get anything else right.

Good question. I get the impression the majority of offenders jump freely between the phases. In particular, phases four, five and six tend to come into play without previous build up via preceeding phases.

[Pomthai]

I was trying to compose a response that encompases all eight notions. First one has ruined my plan.

[cooked]

I only get annoyed by people using 'BS' or 'Bullshit' as the all encompassing, all conquering, ultimate reply to what ever he doesn't agree with. I did write a BS post one time ( well maybe more than once) but this insulting put down really stops me answering posts.

Probably a charming American phrase that I don't really understand.

[CharlieH]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I feel so enlightened that you have felt us worthy to share your perspective.

Is it their reluctance to be wrong, or others insistance on being right ?

Edited November 25, 2013 by CharlieH

[JLCrab]

My attitude when the recipient of any of the above courtesy Paul Newman (Gondorf) and Robert Redford (Hooker) in The Sting:

Johnny Hooker: I gave him the breakout just like you said.

Henry Gondorff: And?

JH: 'S good. He threatened to kill me.

HG: Hell, kid, they don't do that, you know you're not getting to 'em.

[Forethat]

Good luck with the job hunting...

Phase four..?

[Forethat]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I feel so enlightened that you have felt us worthy to share your perspective.

Is it their reluctance to be wrong, or others insistance on being right ?

Phase four..?

[Forethat]

I only get annoyed by people using 'BS' or 'Bullshit' as the all encompassing, all conquering, ultimate reply to what ever he doesn't agree with. I did write a BS post one time ( well maybe more than once) but this insulting put down really stops me answering posts.

Probably a charming American phrase that I don't really understand.

I am not sure...but I want to believe calling BS on someone is not a breach in case it is accompanied by reasonable evidence with facts which proves that it was actually....bull shit.

But that's only my opinion, I could be wrong.

[CharlieH]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I feel so enlightened that you have felt us worthy to share your perspective.

Is it their reluctance to be wrong, or others insistance on being right ?

Phase four..?

Really? It was intended as phase 6!

[ultimate weapon]

To be fair to the OP this thread title shouldn't have the words TV in it cos not only do forummers here behave like this here they do that in other places too in fact all forums with heavy traffic have ppl that behave exactly like that it's just human nature.

[Forethat]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I feel so enlightened that you have felt us worthy to share your perspective.

Is it their reluctance to be wrong, or others insistance on being right ?

Phase four..?

Really? It was intended as phase 6!

It was just a question, so good thing you clarified your intent.

[Forethat]

To be fair to the OP this thread title shouldn't have the words TV in it cos not only do forummers here behave like this here they do that in other places too in fact all forums with heavy traffic have ppl that behave exactly like that it's just human nature.

Never thought of that. You might be right there.m

[Gsxrnz]

There's a classic No.3 that posts regularly. If his responses/denials/accusations have less than three irrelevant questions in every post, I feel kind of cheated.

[Gsxrnz]

To be fair to the OP this thread title shouldn't have the words TV in it cos not only do forummers here behave like this here they do that in other places too in fact all forums with heavy traffic have ppl that behave exactly like that it's just human nature.

Never thought of that. You might be right there.m

It's not just internet forums, it's about human interaction. The study of styles of debate and argument styles are well defined and documented.

On a side note, I thought I'd made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

[impulse]

To be fair to the OP this thread title shouldn't have the words TV in it cos not only do forummers here behave like this here they do that in other places too in fact all forums with heavy traffic have ppl that behave exactly like that it's just human nature.

Never thought of that. You might be right there.m

It's not just internet forums, it's about human interaction. The study of styles of debate and argument styles are well defined and documented.

On a side note, I thought I'd made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

Partly true, but the interweb really changes the nature of human interaction.

I can say in 10 seconds what it would take me 20 minutes to type. And during those 10 seconds, I can read feedback from facial expressions and body language, and head off in an entirely different direction based on that feedback.

Not to mention the anonymity afforded by a keyboard.

Are you sure you were wrong? That doesn't sound like you.

Edited November 25, 2013 by impulse

[ultimate weapon]

To be fair to the OP this thread title shouldn't have the words TV in it cos not only do forummers here behave like this here they do that in other places too in fact all forums with heavy traffic have ppl that behave exactly like that it's just human nature.

Never thought of that. You might be right there.m

It's not just internet forums, it's about human interaction. The study of styles of debate and argument styles are well defined and documented.

On a side note, I thought I'd made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

yes human interaction but there is a difference in human behavior on the internet vs face to face and ppl tend to be more civil face to face as not doing so could sometimes erupt into something physical. Also ppl tend to get into more intimate/intellectual discussions with strangers like i am sure most of us are here with one another. You wouldn't do that outside the internet.

[infinity11]

I read SOME of the OP and only thought: no different than real life, just a whole lot worse online for more than one reason (nature of the beast?)

[LennyW]

It get.s a bit predictable when long winded intros are followed by..... Moderators, Please note this is not an attempt to stir up anything.............!

[samran]

Step 9 can go two ways:

9.1 The thread descends into a diatribe on how immigrants are taking over the UK.

9.2 It is somehow all Obama's fault

[sustento]

Step 9 can go two ways:

9.1 The thread descends into a diatribe on how immigrants are taking over the UK.

9.2 It is somehow all Obama's fault

25 likes to this post please...

[MJP]

I honestly think ThaiVisa would do well to get rid of the General Forum altogether. It's mostly aggressive, arrogant and nasty and it's the first sub-forum most site visitors go and it does not provide a warm welcome.

It's a shame, because the other sub-forums are quite the opposite. Friendly, informative, fun and interesting.

This is not aimed at the OP by the way, or any particular regulars here.

Edited November 25, 2013 by MJP

[thailiketoo]

I like the posters who don't have an inkling of what the post is about or where Thailand is located on a map or how to type but have figured out how to use a smiley. Further the posters who are twice as dumb and palsied who hit the button twice and the poor guy who has stuttering fingers but has still not figured what the post is about .

[MJP]

I like the posters who don't have an inkling of what the post is about or where Thailand is located on a map or how to type but have figured out how to use a smiley. Further the posters who are twice as dumb and palsied who hit the button twice and the poor guy who has stuttering fingers but has still not figured what the post is about .

Oppps!

[sustento]

I like the posters who don't have an inkling of what the post is about or where Thailand is located on a map or how to type but have figured out how to use a smiley. Further the posters who are twice as dumb and palsied who hit the button twice and the poor guy who has stuttering fingers but has still not figured what the post is about .

Do you understand the meaning of 'ad hominem'?

[transam]

Has the OP ever been wrong and admitted it..........noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.