Do you play "devil's advocate" on the Dis?

[Princess on the Run]

How many "legal advice" or "medical advice" is asked on this forum? Here's my legal advice, call a lawyer. And my medical advice, call a doctor. Legal and medical issues isn't like car or house repair where every single person on this forum would be able to do if they would put their mind to it.

And what's even more irritating than the requests for professional help is when someone who ACTUALLY knows the answer for real responds and then a bunch of people who know someone's cousin's ex-GF from college used to live with someone who's neighbor once consulted with a ____ and HE said "____." Not just here, but on plenty of Mommy Boards, I got all the legal questions and then when I answer, I am usually "corrected" by people who hired an attorney once (or knew someone who did). Seriously, why do I waste my time? Really, I am the idiot who should skip those posts because I know how it will end up.

There was a joke somewhere about how many forum users it takes to screw in a light bulb:

1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
1 to move it to the Lighting section
2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
5 to flame the spell checkers
3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

 

[sookie]

This drives me crazy here. Just read someone got an ice cream maker and is now asking the cheapest place to buy heavy cream? Really? You supposedly go to Disney for vacation, yet you can't just buy a carton of heavy cream for less than $2 and you need to find a bargain before you will buy it?

How many times per day does multiple threads pop up with people asking what prepaid cell phone to buy for their kid?

How many "legal advice" or "medical advice" is asked on this forum? Here's my legal advice, call a lawyer. And my medical advice, call a doctor. Legal and medical issues isn't like car or house repair where every single person on this forum would be able to do if they would put their mind to it.

There has been a few questions that were so stupidly simple or so full of common sense that I did post a "let me google that for you" link to. I mean they were really really stupid questions.

I do just post my honest opinions though. Should I lease? Absolutely not. That is the most expensive way to own a vehicle. Should I buy new? Again, absolutely not, the 2nd most expensive way to own a vehicle. Should places be open on Christmas? After all, not everyone celebrates Christmas. If that is the case, then why are all these people who don't celebrate Christmas off on Christmas? They say don't get a job where you know you will be working Christmas, I say, if you don't celebrate Christmas, then don't get a job where you know you'll be off.

And if you can't spend 2 bucks for the cream - don't buy something like an ice cream maker.

 

[mrodgers]

And if you can't spend 2 bucks for the cream - don't buy something like an ice cream maker.

Playing devil's advocate would be to say, "Perhaps they were given the ice cream maker as a gift and didn't purchase it themselves." Stating fact would be that it was definitely stated in said topic that they were given the ice cream maker as a gift

 

[Philagoofy]

There was a joke somewhere about how many forum users it takes to screw in a light bulb:

Thank you, that was pleasingly funny.

 

[snapppyd]

Love the lightbulb (light bulb?) story!!

 

[Rylee]

There was a joke somewhere about how many forum users it takes to screw in a light bulb:

Wow, I haven't seen that in years. I think the first time I read that, it was posted on an American Idol Board, during the first season. It's still funny, though.

 

[LoserMomma]

There was a fantastic thread on here making fun of the psychology of message boards....it was one of the best of the best. Wish I remembered the title so I could pull the zombie thread up and bring it back to life...it was


ETA: Found it, let's see if this works

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1606636

 

[Rylee]

OP -

I'm not sure what you were hoping to discuss in this thread but it has split in two different directions.

Some are discussing the "motives" of posters... Devil's advocates,
others are discussing "manners," the example you gave. lol

 

[snapppyd]

OP -

I'm not sure what you were hoping to discuss in this thread but it has split in two different directions.

Some are discussing the "motives" of posters... Devil's advocates,
others are discussing "manners," the example you gave. lol

That's their prerogative.

 

[WDSearcher]

Here on the Internet, it's not call "devil's advocate", it's called trolling.

Not really ... those are two very different things.

Being a devil's advocate is stating a thoughtful opposite opinion for the purposes of discussion. If done properly, being a devil's advocate enriches the discussion and forces people to look at the other -- and possibly as yet unexplored -- POV.

Trolling is posting something that you know at the outset is going to be incendiary and then sitting back and watching it blow up, without ever returning to the conversation except to continue to stir the pot.

The difference is in motive.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Hmmm, no, I don't play devil's advocate in general. Sometimes, however, if a poster can't believe how a family or friend could see something the way they do, I might try to explain how or why they might have their perspective, even if I do not share that perspective.

As far as manners go....I have taught my children to be polite. I've said it with words, shown by example, and hopefully it has stuck. Most are now adults now, though, so the onus is on them to do the right thing.

I try to be polite to others, but it's because I place a high value on helping others, even if it is in little ways. I always say thank you when others help me because I believe that is polite. However, I've stopped being offended when others do not say thank you (I'm talking random acts, ie holding a door open, letting someone go in front of me in traffic, etc) because I'm not doing the act for the pat on the back. I never know what's going on with someone as to why they aren't practicing what I would consider good manners and try to assume that they might be having a rough day...or worse. So I do what I think is best and leave their response (or lack of a response) up to them.

 

[SaraJayne]

Here on the Internet, it's not call "devil's advocate", it's called trolling.

Two very different things.

On the Dis, disagreeing does not equal being the devil's advocate, no matter what some people think.

 

[Christopher Robin]

There was a fantastic thread on here making fun of the psychology of message boards....it was one of the best of the best. Wish I remembered the title so I could pull the zombie thread up and bring it back to life...it was


ETA: Found it, let's see if this works

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1606636

Yup, still works.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm hoping that some people are playing Devil's Advocate on these boards. I started a thread on the planning board about a kid who threw up all over himself and the sidewalk while waiting for the parade to start during MVMCP. His parents kind of wiped him down like you would a child who dropped food on his shirt, threw a poncho over the vomit puddle, and they all just sat there - smelling of vomit. It was less than pleasant for those of us around him. Most people on the thread agreed that he should have been cleaned up better, possibly have left, and that it is inconsiderate to the people around them to have to smell vomit during the parade and the 20 minutes leading up to the parade. Then, there were other people who said that everyone who was bothered by the smell should have been the ones to move - not the family who smelled of vomit - and that we should have volunteered to help clean up the child.

I have found there is absolutely nothing you can post about on the Dis, and not have someone tell you you are wrong. Not one single thing!

 

[kimmar067]

I don't play devil's advocate.....

...I don't either....don't have the 'horns' for it...

 

[snapppyd]

...I don't either....don't have the 'horns' for it...

But what about the tail?

 

[Christopher Robin]

I have found there is absolutely nothing you can post about on the Dis, and not have someone tell you you are wrong. Not one single thing!

I disagree.

 

[kimmar067]

I disagree.

 

[kimmar067]

But what about the tail?

...uhhhhh........uhhhh........ummmmm.......errrrr......okay.....

 

[maxiesmom]

I disagree.