On those who listen
Someone or the other is always wrong on the internet. Setting people straight is a common pastime on the web. Some do it for sport, with others, it is an obsession. I am guilty of it myself (mi lord! agar ye gunaah hai, toh…).
I usually don’t do it though. I have been in conversation with utterly obnoxious people who I did not agree with one bit and i still managed to ignore it all. I do however, make it a point to debate the hell out of them when there is at least one listener around.
I know full well that I can’t change anyone. The violent would remain violent, the stupid will remain stupid, and the impressionable (even though they may agree with my arguments right now) will remain impressionable.
The reason I care about the listeners is that they are the decision-makers. I might also add that they are often the majority. Listeners sit around, seemingly doing nothing. Most of the time, you won’t even know they are there. But make no mistake, listeners are everywhere, at least in most social environments, and definitely all over the internet.
When you let someone you believe is wrong have his say without interrupting him, you rob the listeners of a chance to hear the other side of the story – YOUR side of the story.
When I debate an issue on the internet, my intention is not to ‘defeat’ the other person or to ‘prove’ him wrong. Anyone who has ever been in an argument will know that that is impossible. I debate for the nameless third parties. I debate so that my opponent’s view of the world may not be the only one to go out to them. It may seem like a wasteful exercise to many. I call it balance.