Facebook Debating 101 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Facebook Debating 101

I don't always debate on Facebook, but when I do, I follow some rules.

10
Facebook Debating 101
Geralt

It is basically a fact of modern life that Facebook is a huge source of news and social interaction. Put those two together and disagreement and debate are all but inevitable. I even recommend seeking it out and being vocal about what you believe. However, Facebook disagreements can easily dissolve into trolling, ad hominems, and generally a terrible time for all involved. I come from a background of debate, I even wrote some general guidelines for a formal debate, but Facebook is a very different animal. The nature of comments is that they are relatively short (although I've certainly seen and written ones that were small essays) so some information and nuance is bound to get lost in the medium. There also aren't any moderators or anything to regulate the debate to keep it on topic and civil. So, how can you have a good debate on such a platform?

In short: Don't even try.

However, if, like me, you're stubborn and insist on having them anyway, heed the following.

1. Know your audience!

I don't necessarily mean the person whose post you are commenting on, I mean the people you want your comment to reach. If you are looking to persuade the person who posted, that's fine, but keep that in mind when you're writing. If your comment is for the emotional release of getting something "off your chest", that's fine so long as you know that's what you're doing. If, like me, you comment for third parties that are going to be exposed to the post and the comments on it, then you have to write with that information in mind. This doesn't really change any of the other tips, but it does give them a bit more context.

2. Keep it civil!

What is put on the internet, more or less, stays on the internet. Whatever you say, make sure you're okay with friends, family, and future employers being able to see what you said. More than that, incivility will lead to a discordant discussion faster than you can compare someone to Hitler. This includes calling out incivility. You can disagree quite vehemently with someone without resorting to insults of ill wishes. I say this as someone who has been told, implicitly, that they are going to hell while discussing something on Facebook. When that happens, even if I agree with the person's argument, I make a point of keeping insults out of the discussion.

This does not mean you should tolerate intolerance. If someone is being intolerant or hateful, especially without factual basis, feel free call them out on it. I've done so with liberals and conservatives, so don't hesitate to call hate what it is and point out where it is unfounded.

3. Respect evidence!

Regardless of where you stand on a given issue, we all should respect numerical evidence over anecdotal experiences. Anecdotes, by definition, are personal experience. Statistical data, collected by professionals, is far more revealing of what actually happens in the world. For instance, just because you may have had a really good or really bad experience with a given car brand doesn't mean the brand is good or bad as a whole. For that we have to look at objective measures such as resale value, fuel efficiency, customer satisfaction rating, etcetera. Another way to look at it is sample size. An anecdote is a sample size of 1, even if you have a dozen anecdotes that still only brings you to 12, but most empirical studies or surveys have sample sizes of 100 at least. Polls in particular tend to reach thousands of people.

4. Be willing to be wrong!

If you aren't willing to believe that you might be wrong on a factual point, then everyone is in for a bad time. Matters of opinion are a different issue where disagreement is almost never actually going to be resolved. When confronted with factual evidence that your position is incorrect, be willing to change.

5. Know when to stop!

There are going to be times where discussions aren't worth the trouble. It might be because someone is actively trolling, or perhaps the ideological differences simply can't be reconciled. Regardless of why, know when to cease participation in a conversation for your own sake if nothing else.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189671
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14580
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457583
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26486
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments