Sometimes, its Right to be an Argumentative Bastard...

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When I was a teenager I developed a pride that I was talented at debate. I seemed to have an ability to corner people, identify the flaw in their logic and blast them with irrefutable brilliance. Yet, afterward, I wouldn't feel all that good about it.

I had angered the other person, burned a bridge, but for that price what did I gain? Nothing, at least nothing beyond a glory within the confines of my imagination. Gradually, over time, I came to realize that winning a debate didn't make me feel like a winner at all, it made me feel like a jerk.

I eventually went on to be so deeply frustrated with my tendency to rock someone's socks, that I started reading the old book How to Win Friends & Influence People and began applying it in my life. Did everything turn around? Hell no. And if anyone tells you they suddenly transformed they are selling you something. We don't change rapidly, at least not most of the time, and when we do there usually follows moments or months or years of relapse.

Nevertheless, the book was applied in my life to the best of my ability. It did help. However, years later, despite the fact that I grow more peace-seeking the older I get, I can't shake the need to verbally rough someone up from time to time. But some of the time, that's just the right thing to do.

I'm a free speech absolutest, its tough for me to block anyone on Twitter or something along those lines. Everyone should be heard. But at the same time, because people need to have their free speech protected, they also need to be able to get totally crushed by superior logic. Yes, everyone should have the right to say something stupid, but in that world, it becomes equally important that we have the ability to point out the stupidity of said stupid comment.

I would go so far as to say it becomes a knightly obligation to rip someone a new one. But why would this be so? Simple, because nothing is as contagious as a seriously idiotic idea. I'm not kidding, for some reason brilliant ideas get forgotten but absolutely ridiculous thoughts spread like wildfire. Occasionally, we find ourselves ordained to be the one to change the course of history by speaking out about incorrect and dangerous thinking.

Don't be a douche, but sometimes, be argumentative. You just might find yourself becoming the sole sentinel defending the walls of Truth from the ensuing doom to be begot by the horde of propaganda.