The Argument Cutting Razor
For when you need to cut out conversations that hold your time and steal your joy, especially in the 'real' world.
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One of the merits of occasionally exiting social media is that it forces you to view the world with more personal effect. For instance, I have found that even though it fascinated me more than it bothered me, I have seen lesser ‘gym-bros’ since I quit SM; because my real-world experiences are limited chiefly to the people I CHOOSE to seek and see.
There are multitudes of merits to these exits, some are personal, and some are universal. But this existence has allowed me to refresh my perspective on something crucial to our continued development as people (especially in communities); arguments.
Some may argue that arguments are by-products of our sheltering ourselves in communities. Others may say it is because we argue that we seek communities. Whatever it is, from communities to science, technology, and our advancements as people, asking why and why not, from multiple perspectives, is one of the factors for our people-ing and growth.
As someone who used to argue a lot on the internet (a position which I have since wildly shifted from) and also used to encourage all sorts of discourses (many leading to arguments) in the real world, I have found that while arguments create an opportunity for us to question the things we previously understood and open us to new information capable of transforming our lived experiences, there is an important thing that we fail to do when we argue. It is to know where to draw the line.
I have discovered some panacea to that. A panacea from a family which I had previously referred to on NAN.
Cut It!
Arguments happen all the time. They often occur when you do not intend for them to do so. There are many ways to visit such situations, my favourite being the Socratic method. But I am learning now, more than ever, that I need not even get into any deep philosophical approach if the arguments do not pass a simple test. One which was developed by a journalist many years ago.
It is called Hitchens's razor.
It is very rare to get into arguments with people without an emotional attachment coming to it, even when it seems to not mean much to them; it often means something to their ego/self-worth.
Hitchens, thus, created a simple test for arguments, especially those masqueraded as being perspective-changing and objective. Mr Christopher Hitchens said: “what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence”
The razor wants you to cut arguments on the premise that: “the burden of proof regarding the truthfulness of a claim lies with the one who makes the claim; if this burden is not met, then the claim is unfounded, and its opponents need not argue further in order to dismiss it.”
If someone says a political aspirant, for instance, is corrupt, the burden of proving what has been asserted is on them. Usually, you would hear people tell you to “go and verify”, “read a book”, or “google it” when they assert things from places of bias. Sometimes, it is out of frustration. But very often, it is because the person making such assertion echoes sentiments that they and their communities believe in and want you to be trapped in same.
Attempting to change opinions that are not fact-based is often an arduous task. On the internet, you may choose to block people and move on. That’s one advantage it offers. But imagine having situations like this with a co-worker you have to see often. It would save them the awkwardness and protect the dignity of your intellect to flat line such engagements as they stem by simply evaluating whatever the claim might be, asking for evidence, and deciding if such arguments are worth your time and intellect.
Usually, they aren’t.
TEA
I tried returning to social media on Friday. I opened Twitter and Instagram on pc, to see what was popping on my account, and it was a web of messages and notifications.
I promised I would find time to read and reply to the texts and mentions. But it seems like a lot of time I would rather spend elsewhere, so I went elsewhere.
The only reason I am not on SM at this time is that I am afraid to read my messages. Send help!!!
Until the next NAN, be kind to yourself and the world around you; be patient with yourself and others; love yourself and the people around you; do not give up on things that matter to you unless giving up will provide you more peace and security.