Comments on: Zealots: Let Them \”Win\” (Online Vermin, Part 3) http://www.contentious.com/2005/02/02/zealots/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:43:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Wushijie http://www.contentious.com/2005/02/02/zealots/#comment-13337 Wushijie Tue, 08 Feb 2005 16:22:00 +0000 #comment-13337 I can't imagine a better example of a zealot as Bill O'Reilly. I can’t imagine a better example of a zealot as Bill O’Reilly.

]]> By: Travis Swicegood http://www.contentious.com/2005/02/02/zealots/#comment-11575 Travis Swicegood Fri, 04 Feb 2005 02:15:54 +0000 #comment-11575 <blockquote>"I would agree with that only to a point. In any conflict with a zealot, the discussion quickly achieves pointlessness. This is because it’s almost impossible to change a zealot’s mind about “the truth,� whatever she believes that truth to be."</blockquote> Very true... You'll never convert a true zealot, but if you go into it with the attitude that sparing with them is not about winning, but rather sharpening your own case against their points, it can help. Of course, this is essentially shadow boxing. You're right, if you really want to refine your point-of-view, you'll have to step into the ring where there's a possibility of winning.

“I would agree with that only to a point. In any conflict with a zealot, the discussion quickly achieves pointlessness. This is because it’s almost impossible to change a zealot’s mind about “the truth,â€? whatever she believes that truth to be.”

Very true… You’ll never convert a true zealot, but if you go into it with the attitude that sparing with them is not about winning, but rather sharpening your own case against their points, it can help. Of course, this is essentially shadow boxing. You’re right, if you really want to refine your point-of-view, you’ll have to step into the ring where there’s a possibility of winning.

]]> By: View from the Isle - Professional Blogging & Blog Consulting http://www.contentious.com/2005/02/02/zealots/#comment-11320 View from the Isle - Professional Blogging & Blog Consulting Thu, 03 Feb 2005 05:25:03 +0000 #comment-11320 <trackback /><strong>The last of online vermin: the zealot</strong> Amy Gahran wraps up her series on online vermin with a discussion of zealots--Zealots- Let Them “Win” (Online Vermin, Part 3).  I'll admit ... The last of online vermin: the zealot
Amy Gahran wraps up her series on online vermin with a discussion of zealots–Zealots- Let Them “Win” (Online Vermin, Part 3).  I’ll admit …

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2005/02/02/zealots/#comment-11167 Amy Gahran Wed, 02 Feb 2005 20:33:55 +0000 #comment-11167 Travis wrote: <i>"You’ve left out the definition of a quasi-zealot - the one who thinks they’re right and will point it out, but doesn’t make a nuisance of themselves…"</i> Actually, I'd say that if someone backs down or lets and issue go after stating his piece, he's not a zealot, just opinionated. That's fine, there's nothing wrong with being opinionated! <i>"Sometimes, though, it is fun to engage the zealot. It can definitely help you hone the point of your defense of a given topic so you can better present it by having a ready made counter to the various arguments that are going to be made against it."</i> I would agree with that only to a point. In any conflict with a zealot, the discussion quickly achieves pointlessness. This is because it's almost impossible to change a zealot's mind about "the truth," whatever she believes that truth to be. Personally, I think opinionated people are more useful for honing arguments than zealots. - Amy Gahran Editor, CONTENTIOUS Travis wrote:

“You’ve left out the definition of a quasi-zealot - the one who thinks they’re right and will point it out, but doesn’t make a nuisance of themselves…”

Actually, I’d say that if someone backs down or lets and issue go after stating his piece, he’s not a zealot, just opinionated. That’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with being opinionated!

“Sometimes, though, it is fun to engage the zealot. It can definitely help you hone the point of your defense of a given topic so you can better present it by having a ready made counter to the various arguments that are going to be made against it.”

I would agree with that only to a point. In any conflict with a zealot, the discussion quickly achieves pointlessness. This is because it’s almost impossible to change a zealot’s mind about “the truth,” whatever she believes that truth to be.

Personally, I think opinionated people are more useful for honing arguments than zealots.

- Amy Gahran
Editor, CONTENTIOUS

]]> By: Travis Swicegood http://www.contentious.com/2005/02/02/zealots/#comment-11164 Travis Swicegood Wed, 02 Feb 2005 19:45:54 +0000 #comment-11164 You've left out the definition of a quasi-zealot - the one who thinks they're right and will point it out, but doesn't make a nuisance of themselves... You know, like me and CC license! :) (couldn't resist) On my personal blog, I've run into several zealot types who take issue with some of my views. The two lightning rod issues are politics and religion, not necessarily in that order. Those posts seem to get the most zealots attracted to them as both bread absolutism, or as I refer to it, a black and white world view. Sometimes, though, it is fun to engage the zealot. It can definitely help you hone the point of your defense of a given topic so you can better present it by having a ready made counter to the various arguments that are going to be made against it. You’ve left out the definition of a quasi-zealot - the one who thinks they’re right and will point it out, but doesn’t make a nuisance of themselves… You know, like me and CC license! :) (couldn’t resist)

On my personal blog, I’ve run into several zealot types who take issue with some of my views. The two lightning rod issues are politics and religion, not necessarily in that order. Those posts seem to get the most zealots attracted to them as both bread absolutism, or as I refer to it, a black and white world view. Sometimes, though, it is fun to engage the zealot. It can definitely help you hone the point of your defense of a given topic so you can better present it by having a ready made counter to the various arguments that are going to be made against it.

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