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How to know if you have won an argument on the internet

We've all been there, having a heated discussion with someone online, you promote your viewpoint, they promote theirs.

But how do you know if you have won the argument?

We aren't in High School anymore, there isn't a group of teachers and administrators to offer their judgement on who actually won the argument.

How would you know? Let the Munster clue you in....

First way: Person stops responding. This is the most obvious one. If they stop responding, that means they have nothing further to say on the matter, and you win by default.

Second way: Person blocks you. Similar to the first way, if the person is so overwhelmed by your responses that they block you, it means they can't handle the argument anymore. You win again.

Third way: Ad hominem or straw man responses. Person responds beside the point, or engages in personal attacks instead of attacks on your argument. You've upset them emotionally and this is the only way they can respond. You win again.

Fourth way: Person reports you to the administrators. A true coward move, unless you have gone way over the line and are threatening the person, this should never happen. When it does, it's an admittance that the person is overwhelmed by the argument and is desperately looking for a savior. You win again.

Fifth way: Person and his/her like minded pals "brigade" you, as in, they all attack you at once and try to trip you up or they all try to report you to the admins if you happened to say something that could get you sanctioned. This is a tough one to go through, and ultimately, you may not win. You may find the admins have no choice but to sanction you. However, console yourself with the knowledge that it took a whole group of assholes coming after you to trip you up. There is no shame in this one, if anything the shame should be directed at the brigaders and their ringleader for their shitty and cowardly response.

Have I missed any?

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Beautifullyderanged · 41-45, F

I don't know if the stop responding one is always true. I had an argument on here with someone and he wouldn't stop replying (he likes to have the last word) and it was late, I was tired, so I told him that he had proved the point that I had made about his behaviour and that I would let him reply to me as he obviously couldn't help himself, but not respond to him so he could have the last word. He did reply but I have no idea what he said as I didn't read it as as far as I was concerned the conversation was done. So did he win if I told him I was done with the conversation and didn't reply to whatever his last post said so in essence I stopped responding? Sometimes walking away shows you have won, shows more maturity maybe, knowing when to stop.

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Beautifullyderanged That's a fair rebuttal and I agree with you. Perhaps you could look at it as this person was engaging in ad hominmen attacks(Number 3) and you knew that he would never stop responding. So you did the mature thing and moved on.

I would say you still won the argument and it was Number 3 that sunk the other person.

Beautifullyderanged · 41-45, F

@SumKindaMunster I suppose it could be, I think it depends on how you define an attack. For example verbal abuse is see as an attack, what he was doing was just childish, but thinking about it as I type this, 3 would be the best place for it without having to create more options that go way too indepth :)

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Beautifullyderanged Yeah...yeah we aren't hammering out public policy here just talking about internet behavior. 😆

Thanks for your contributions!

Mikemcneil · 61-69, M

Who cares? It's not a competition is it?

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Mikemcneil · 61-69, M

@SumKindaMunster what does it say about personal attacks being a sign you've lost 🤔🤣

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Mikemcneil Not relevant, that applies to people who engage in good faith, not snide pathetic wretches desperately trying to put someone down to feel better about themselves.

Mikemcneil · 61-69, M

@SumKindaMunster you're such a decent human being, aren't you? 🙄 🤣

Adaydreambeliever · 61-69, F

You know, I've never seen engaging in debate or answering posts as something that has a winner..

You do make some interesting points and observations although I confess, I just get bored easily and move on, so I don't always go back and check, I get especially bored of the ones where you go back and forth.. I'd not consider that either of us won or lost in that case - just that one of us got bored.

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Adaydreambeliever As I said to another commenter here, competition and challenges are male desires, in a general sense females just don't seem to have an interest in that.

Thanks for your contribution.

Adaydreambeliever · 61-69, F

@SumKindaMunster I only sometimes go back and look at past comments.. but I did manage to catch this one.. You make an interesting point, one which is however, a generalisation. Many women are just as, if not more so competitive ..some feel they have to be to get ahead in a world which is still predominantly male dominated. I am competitive too, in many ways, I like to be better, stronger, harder and faster... but my competitive nature is really only with myself, beating my own records and standards.

I think really all it shows for me is that I enjoy the thrust and parry of debate and can be competitive in that, but I don't feel the need to win.. indeed as I say, I tend to get bored really easily and prefer new meat so to speak.

Interestingly though, I would add that I believe that the other person who commented in a similar vein was actually a member of the male species.. so I guess all that shows is that we can't generalise :)

Dusty101 · F

I just let them argue last.
They can rabbit along with themselves!
I said my piece in the content. Can't hammer a blunt nail, so I WIN! 😁🔨

LeopoldBloom · M

Sometimes I won’t respond to the other person because further discussion is pointless or the conversation has deteriorated to where nothing of substance is being communicated.

Ultimately, only outsiders can judge who “won” unless one of the participants concedes that he lost. But that rarely happens.

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@LeopoldBloom True. This is more an exercise in egotism. But I like to amuse myself with coming up with ways to make arguing here more fun and enjoyable.

Also, thanks for responding relevantly, it's appreciated.

BlueVeins · 26-30

I still like to debate, but I'm at a point where I don't even consider winning and losing to exist anymore. Which, I guess that's a sign of the highest defeat but that's alright lmao

Frank52

If I get an ad hominem attack I just stop. Not every debate is a competition. I'm not interested if it becomes that and if the other party wants to believe they've 'won' I'm glad I've made them feel good. I just want to bounce ideas off other people who think differently from me.

SW-User

I agree with it all except the first one. I will stop talking to someone if they have no logical arguments and just get angry and go on and on. Them having the last word doesn't mean they've won it.

Keepitsimple · 56-60, F

Why do you want to win? People are too quick to block. Nobody agrees to disagree or just back off to let people cool down. Socializing shouldn’t be conquest and texting isn’t always easy when trying to express yourself.

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Keepitsimple · 56-60, F

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’m American and this year it will only be me and my husband as Covid struck my family this week. :( Thanks for being cool afterall. 🤗@SumKindaMunster

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Keepitsimple You bet. Have a nice weekend as well, and be nice to your husband. Let him win an argument or two! We need it!

Keepitsimple · 56-60, F

@SumKindaMunster 😂👍 Happy trails to you!

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

I'd agree with all except number one, sometimes I stop responding because the person is going in circles and there's no reason to keep responding. Like some people think that repeating themselves makes an opinion true but it doesn't.

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@SatanBurger A common response to this post. I would clarify the point by saying that yes, if the "argument" is childish back and forth, a non sequitur, or ad hominem responses, then yeah, it's not worth responding.

This goes more towards the poster who smugly regurgitates some factoid that I know has been debunked or is controversial. Typically I respond with relevant rebuttals challenging the poster to answer some pointed questions about their response, and then I never hear anything again from them. That's the kind of scenario I am referencing here.

Thanks for your contribution!

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@SumKindaMunster I saw your explanation after I typed the response so I get it. I just left it up and didn't edit.

HoeBag · 51-55, F

Arguing on the Internet is like competing in the Special Olympics...

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@HoeBag Amusing response, I would disagree though.

rottenrobi · 56-60, F

Many times, the other person says something asinine, or so completely off topic, that I don't care to respond. People are so quick to call each other names, making me lose interest too. I've responded out of anger before, and always felt foolish in the end.
If the argument remains an argument, no response could be a win by default.
But if the argument deteriorates into a personal attack, is winning by default really winning?
I think I'm the victor, leaving a squabble, with my dignity still in tact.

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@rottenrobi I've heard a lot of comments like this, usually from women. I just think there is a disconnect there. Men are competitive, I like to win, I like to feel victory, I like to feel I defeated my opponent.

Women don't care so much about stuff like that. They want consensus, not conflict.

Not saying one way is better than the other, just noting the distinction in the sexes.

Thanks for your comment!

rottenrobi · 56-60, F

@SumKindaMunster I agree with you. I have to be passionate about the topic to keep me in the fight.
Any argument of merit I've had here, was with a man. It's always clear how deep his need to win is.
Thank you for your comment.

JT123 · M

As soon as I get called a Racist I know I won :)

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@JT123 Indeed! That's number 3.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

they all try to report you to the admins if you happened to say something that could get you sanctioned.

That never works with me lol... and I also only do this to protect myself but I'll copy part of their comment with their username in it in quote text and then put my response underneath it.

OR

If I don't want to do that because sometimes the comment is long, I'll say something specific like "wow I was trying to have a decent conversation but since you had to go insult."

Something similar.

Then I'll let it rip, the rule for me and this is ALWAYS a rule is that they have to come to me first and say something first. In this way, they're giving me permission to come at them harshly and it's harder to report since they're the ones who look bad ☺️

FreestyleArt · 36-40, M

I don't think it really matters of winning an argument for something we didn't take part of.

Some waste too much energy of arguing trying to win a battle. that's their lost

I don't waste my time with these bored ass miniature barking Dogs on here

Invocations · F

Usually when I send my nudes, I win. Nothing wins an argument like a boob pic out of the blue.

Budwick · 70-79, M

You have covered them well.
I think I see

Third way: Ad hominem or straw man responses.

the most.

Great list.
And, good to see you too.

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Budwick Thanks Bud! Appreciate the contribution, good to see you too! You holding up ok?

Budwick · 70-79, M

@SumKindaMunster Doin OK.
The election could have gone more smoothly.
But, we'll get through it - whatever happens.
Me and Mrs. Budwick in good health for old phucks.
And, it's Friday afternoon.

Comin up roses!

I hope you and yours are doing well too.

SW-User

They block. Lol

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@SW-User That's number 2!

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SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@SW-User K. Care to expand on that?

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SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@SW-User I'm speaking of relevant and cogent arguments that go back and forth for awhile. Not gibbering trolls who don't ever bother to promote any sort of understandable viewpoint, they just attack and try to stir up shit.

I wouldn't blame you for not entertaining such nonsense.

Ynotjenn · F

I stop responding all the time and I call that a win. I’m not arguing with an ill-equipped person 🤣

SumKindaMunster · 56-60, M

@Ynotjenn That's fair.

Quetzalcoatlus · 46-50, M

If I win the wife gives me a bj, if I lose it’s a handjob. So either way I never lose..

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