I use forums like these as a way to pressure-test crazy ideas, or ways I tell a story. My post history is probably full of crazy shit as a result. In no way will I ever link this account to my real name; in fact I’ll probably abandon it in a few months and start another.
As a result, I also tend to take online argumentation to be more of an academic exercise than one capable of changing opinions. You can also argue the opposing side of an issue to understand the nuance there.
But the net takeaway is that the online world does not represent reality; it represents all the possibilities of reality — which can sometimes be horrifying.
I use forums like these as a way to pressure-test crazy ideas, or ways I tell a story. My post history is probably full of crazy shit as a result. In no way will I ever link this account to my real name; in fact I’ll probably abandon it in a few months and start another.
As a result, I also tend to take online argumentation to be more of an academic exercise than one capable of changing opinions. You can also argue the opposing side of an issue to understand the nuance there.
But the net takeaway is that the online world does not represent reality; it represents all the possibilities of reality — which can sometimes be horrifying.