My father is a bit of a nay-sayer. When it comes to saying nay, he's amongst the world's best. What I mean is, he enjoys disagreeing with people just for the sake of disagreeing. You could tell him "Air is necessary for breathing," and he'd take an opposing viewpoint.
Growing up, I got seriously annoyed at times, because my dad could maintain a debate until I wanted to mash my own face with a cupboard door. It damn near drove me out of my mind, and he still does it, from time to time, either out of amusement, or just to get a rise out of me.
And, true to form, I've turned out exactly like him. Except I'm even worse, because I just do it practically by reflex, whereas dad at least can control when he does it. I'll find myself within a group of friends, and suddenly I realize that I'm arguing with them just for the sake of argument. And the worst part is, sometimes I'll find that I don't even agree with my own position; I'll play the Devil's Advocate for no good damned reason.
It's just now becoming clear to me how much this behavior permeates my Internet debating. I was looking through some of my blog archives last night thinking "Dude, I don't even believe that, but I was making a convincing case FOR it."
The point, as far as there is one, is that I have to be more careful with this behavioral affliction, or I'll wake up one day and realize I don't even know what I believe any more, beyond disagreeing with everything everyone else says. I'll be an unbearable old person if this trend continues unabated.
Here's a list of famous women I'm posting to boost Web traffic: Christina Aguilera. Jessica Alba. Lindsay Lohan. Tina Fey.. Carrie Ann Moss. Kate Hudson. Summer Glau. Jennifer Love Hewitt. Jennifer Connelly. Christina Aguilera. Jessica Alba. Lindsay Lohan. Jessica Alba. Jenny Garth. Jenny Garth. Alyssa Milano. Alyssa Milano. Kate Hudson. Summer Glau. Jennifer Love Hewitt. Jennifer Connelly. Evanna Lynch. Evanna Lynch. Evanna Lynch.
Posted by Ryan at April 21, 2005 11:25 AMAs opposed to the unbearable young person you are today.
Ba-dum-bum. Thank's, try the veal.
Posted by: David Grenier at April 21, 2005 11:41 AMJust me, David and Joshua, sitting at the unbearable young folks table. Kind of a sad thought, really.
Posted by: Ryan at April 21, 2005 11:52 AMAnd I do it when I don't even really give a shit about the topic, I just do it to have something to do. What's really good is when you argue them down, and they are agreeing with you and then you take the other side, their old side. Confuses the hell out of people.
It's a bad personality trait, and I'm just glad it's not just me.
I was told it was from being a libra and being able to see both sides of everything....
hey, i do the same thing! but only when i'm on my period. :) that way people only hate you one-fourth of the year, instead of all the time.
heh heh. I (heart) my vagina.
no i don't. yes i do. no i DON'T. yes i DO.
Posted by: arrancia at April 22, 2005 11:23 PMLOL...with a cupboard door, eh? Hey, at least you recognize it. I think if you were a kid it's called opositional defiance disorder.
Posted by: Desult at April 23, 2005 03:12 PM
Stumble It!
