The Eight-Fold Path of TV-Humiliation

[Forethat 2,515]

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 347]

Good luck with the job hunting...

[chrisinth 9,228]

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 873]

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

[impulse 20,627]

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 2,515]

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 2,514]

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

[cooked 6,012]

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 28,457]

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 9,146]

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 2,515]

Good luck with the job hunting...

Phase four..?

[Forethat 2,515]

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 2,515]

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 28,457]

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 604]

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.