Diary of a Network Geek

Ever gotten into an argument on the ‘Net?

Well, Charles Miller over at The Fishbowl has a rules just for you, er, us. I have to admit, Charles’ Rules of Argument, are not only very accurate, but things I learned the very, very hard way over the years. The first rule is the most important: “You will never change anyone’s mind on a matter of opinion.”
Oh, the agony I could have saved myself over the years if I’d only learned to apply that little mantra. It is so very true. Painfully true. Embarassingly true. I cannot think of a single instance in which I either changed my own mind during an argument or changed someone else’s. Frightening, isn’t it? Consider for a moment, how much of our communication on the Internet relates to argument. Or, at least, the attempt to change someone’s mind about something. Has it ever worked? The closest I’ve come is visiting the Libertarian Party‘s website, but I’d already been changing my mind by the time I went there, so it doesn’t really count. Heck, I can hardly change my wife’s mind and she’s on my side!

Anyway, I thought it was a usefull thing to reference. Enjoy it, or not, as you please.

I may have another candidate after all….

Okay, this Libertarian guy, Michael Badnarik, just might be on to something. I don’t talk politics much in my blog, mainly because I think too many people already do, but this strikes me as important.
America has forgotten that we’re NOT a two-party system. We have more choices than just voting Democrat or Repbulican. Among others, there are also the Communists, the Socialists, the Family Values Party, the Reform Party, the Green Party (actually, two of them), the Labor Party, and even, yes, even the American Nazi Party. But, for some time now, the most reasonable “Third Party” has seemed like the Libertarians. (You can see all the parties here at Politics1.)
I’ve known about them for quite some time, and I’ve alwasy felt like they were closer to my personal ideal of government, but, it was this article at Slashdot that really got me thinking. I mean, this guy is really answering the questions like he’s thought about them himself and isn’t trying to give the “right” answer. When was the last time a politian did that!?

Well, I haven’t decided, yet, but the more I look, the more I like the Libertarian Party. No matter how you feel, though, get out and vote. Nothing you do as a United States Citizen is more important.