A Description of the Stages of Overly Opinionated Posters
Oct 17, 2016 15:23:34 GMT -5
🎃❅❖.Şp໐໐kฯຟiຖ໓.❖❅🎃, bastion main, and 3 more like this
Post by Yoshimi on Oct 17, 2016 15:23:34 GMT -5
So since I've been on this forum quite a bit, I've noticed some trends with certain people, generally the ones that create threads and then scream (through their keyboards) at anyone with a differing opinion, leading to threads to be locked. As such, I've noticed a common thread in their behavior.
Stage 1: Confidence
The first stage is characterized by the poster seeming like a typical example of a decent forum citizen. The spelling and grammar are normally decent and the subject matter may be disagreeable, but otherwise fairly polite. This is normally the poster's original post in the topic he made, and as such is secure in the knowledge that the intelligent people on the forums will soon respond to him on an amicable level. One or two even might, which causes this stage to extend for a longer period of time.
Stage 2: False Reason
This stage is characterized by the pattern the poster will follow for the continuation of the thread. The poster begins to show signs of aggression, generally shown through mild ad hominim or a false bandwagon appeal. The poster still hasn't begun to lose his temper; after all, his opinion is the correct one and if a few unenlightened souls disagree, then they're idiots who the truly intelligent people will discount out of hand. At this stage, other posters may back up the first poster's assurances, although there are only a few that do. This stage may be missing entirely depending on the personality of the poster. As the disagreement mounts, however, it soon leads to stage three.
Stage 3: Victimization
This disagreement isn't the poster's fault. It's everyone else! They don't understand him! The aggressive behavior begins in earnest and continues as the poster becomes more erratic with rage as more and more people disagree with him. His arguments break down, consisting almost entirely of logical fallacies, false dichotomies, senseless comparisons, and appeals for support. May cite experts in general terms (e.g. doctors, scientists, etc) or constantly cite the same expert over and over again. At this point, the poster believes that he's a true crusader of the one and only truth, and as such he must enlighten the foolish posters who are disagreeing with him by any means necessary. Support for his cause tends to flag in this stage, exacerbating the effect. This may lead to the thread being locked or stage 4.
Stage 4: Self-Destruction
The poster rallies for one last hurrah. In a truly momentous post, he names all the disagreements with his opinion are the result of society, the government, etc. The aggressive behavior either becomes truly venomous, or passive-aggression wins out in a last ditch attempt to seem like a reasonable human being. There is no longer support for the poster; his psychotic behavior has caused any who may agree with him to avoid commenting for fear they will be included in other poster's judgement on the thread. This post is littered with half-hearted attempts at making one more point, logical fallacies, and hypocritical behavior. Any support for the poster will have shown the exact same behavior pattern. This post may end with the poster bowing out (e.g. "I'm done!" or similar statements) or with the thread locked and the poster infracted (sometimes both). However, this stage doesn't necessarily herald the end of this tragicomedy.
Stage 5a: Aftershock
Essentially a continuation of stage 3, this stage invariably leads to locked threads and infractions. The poster is not, in fact, done. The aggression continues in earnest, if anyone is bothering to respond at this point.
Stage 5b: Fallout
This stage may happen whether or not the thread is locked and can happen at any time. The poster continues posting in threads even marginally related to his opinion. In most cases, the phases will begin from phase 1 or 2 due to the poster believing he's found a kindred spirit in the original poster of the new topic. This is a common phase for the few posters who promise to leave the first thread and actually do so.
Stage 5c: Relaxation
The poster appears to calm down, normally the result of an infraction or a poster agreeing with part of his post. He continues on the same points as before, but is more respectful. Logical fallacies may exist, but the poster no longer displays active aggressive behavior. Passive aggressive behavior may occur, but in all the poster seems to have regressed back to stage 1.
This is not an exhaustive post of all the different types of OOPs, but may clear things up for some of you. I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to discuss it below.
Just make sure to agree with all the points I raised.
Stage 1: Confidence
The first stage is characterized by the poster seeming like a typical example of a decent forum citizen. The spelling and grammar are normally decent and the subject matter may be disagreeable, but otherwise fairly polite. This is normally the poster's original post in the topic he made, and as such is secure in the knowledge that the intelligent people on the forums will soon respond to him on an amicable level. One or two even might, which causes this stage to extend for a longer period of time.
Stage 2: False Reason
This stage is characterized by the pattern the poster will follow for the continuation of the thread. The poster begins to show signs of aggression, generally shown through mild ad hominim or a false bandwagon appeal. The poster still hasn't begun to lose his temper; after all, his opinion is the correct one and if a few unenlightened souls disagree, then they're idiots who the truly intelligent people will discount out of hand. At this stage, other posters may back up the first poster's assurances, although there are only a few that do. This stage may be missing entirely depending on the personality of the poster. As the disagreement mounts, however, it soon leads to stage three.
Stage 3: Victimization
This disagreement isn't the poster's fault. It's everyone else! They don't understand him! The aggressive behavior begins in earnest and continues as the poster becomes more erratic with rage as more and more people disagree with him. His arguments break down, consisting almost entirely of logical fallacies, false dichotomies, senseless comparisons, and appeals for support. May cite experts in general terms (e.g. doctors, scientists, etc) or constantly cite the same expert over and over again. At this point, the poster believes that he's a true crusader of the one and only truth, and as such he must enlighten the foolish posters who are disagreeing with him by any means necessary. Support for his cause tends to flag in this stage, exacerbating the effect. This may lead to the thread being locked or stage 4.
Stage 4: Self-Destruction
The poster rallies for one last hurrah. In a truly momentous post, he names all the disagreements with his opinion are the result of society, the government, etc. The aggressive behavior either becomes truly venomous, or passive-aggression wins out in a last ditch attempt to seem like a reasonable human being. There is no longer support for the poster; his psychotic behavior has caused any who may agree with him to avoid commenting for fear they will be included in other poster's judgement on the thread. This post is littered with half-hearted attempts at making one more point, logical fallacies, and hypocritical behavior. Any support for the poster will have shown the exact same behavior pattern. This post may end with the poster bowing out (e.g. "I'm done!" or similar statements) or with the thread locked and the poster infracted (sometimes both). However, this stage doesn't necessarily herald the end of this tragicomedy.
Stage 5a: Aftershock
Essentially a continuation of stage 3, this stage invariably leads to locked threads and infractions. The poster is not, in fact, done. The aggression continues in earnest, if anyone is bothering to respond at this point.
Stage 5b: Fallout
This stage may happen whether or not the thread is locked and can happen at any time. The poster continues posting in threads even marginally related to his opinion. In most cases, the phases will begin from phase 1 or 2 due to the poster believing he's found a kindred spirit in the original poster of the new topic. This is a common phase for the few posters who promise to leave the first thread and actually do so.
Stage 5c: Relaxation
The poster appears to calm down, normally the result of an infraction or a poster agreeing with part of his post. He continues on the same points as before, but is more respectful. Logical fallacies may exist, but the poster no longer displays active aggressive behavior. Passive aggressive behavior may occur, but in all the poster seems to have regressed back to stage 1.
This is not an exhaustive post of all the different types of OOPs, but may clear things up for some of you. I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to discuss it below.
Just make sure to agree with all the points I raised.