Boring Internet [[www.boringinternet.co.uk]] The rest of the internet is a waste of time.

The A-Z of Why the Internet is Shit

D is for ...

Debate websites

Flame wars lurk on every forum where there are enough members; eventually, though forums may begin with low numbers of users and are hospitable, the time comes when these expand. Eventually, some fucker arrives and the flaming - insults directed back and forth between a number of warring parties - begins. Often these are started by petty arguments.

Debate websites effectively take flame wars to a more civilised, sophisticated level.

I hate these websites on this basis. Though flame wars are far more annoying, resorting to lowly personal insults after only a short time, debate websites instead rely on insulting ideas. They are also, though more intelligent, more long-winded and thus, more boring.

Another reason I fucking hate these websites is that, other than the fact that people who have different opinions to you won't actually listen to your own debate in most cases, only going so far as to argue points in it they feel they have valid answers to, is that at no point do people ever give up their side of the argument and go, "Okay, no, I was wrong." Instead, things just get rehashed and rehashed as arguments that may last years spin around in enormous, never-ending circles as new people jump in and yell out their points - most of which have already been heard before.

Yes, debate websites simply offer like-minded people to coalesce and argue with other people who've also grouped due to similar minds. Though the arguments are sophisticated and civilised and generally intelligent and, in some rare cases, valid, the entire thing remains a pointless war of opinion, in which no side dominates; each merely feels smug when they feel they've dealt a devastating blow to the competition.

I do have other reasons for including debate websites in the A-Z, other than the ones I've written above. I have a personal grudge against an overzealous, religious, gangly ginger by the name of Randall "Randy" Sims, who banned me from his debate forum some time ago, though only for a period of two days. I had only joined the forum several years before because I knew people on it, but my use of it was quite limited. Though the ban was a long time ago, my limited use of the forum has since dried up and I still hold the grudge, because as far as I am concerned, in this exchange that led to my banning, I am right. Tell me what you think:

Randy: (suggesting to someone what to dress up as for hallowe'en) Even better idea: You can go as Mohammad and Satan (Allah). And wear big towels over your heads, stolen from a local hotel. Be sure to remember not to bathe for a few weeks before the dance. Want to be authentic.
Me: Oh Randy, you racist fucking bastard.

Boring Internet makes extensive use of IFrames. If you are unable to view IFrames, please download <A HREF="http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/" Target="_blank">Mozilla Firefox</A>; it's free, secure, and best of all: you can view Boring Internet.
	The A-Z of Why the Internet is Shit D is for ... Debate websites Flame wars lurk on every forum where there are enough members; eventually, though forums may begin with low numbers of users and are hospitable, the time comes when these expand. Eventually, some fucker arrives and the flaming - insults directed back and forth between a number of warring parties - begins. Often these are started by petty arguments. Debate websites effectively take flame wars to a more civilised, sophisticated level. I hate these websites on this basis. Though flame wars are far more annoying, resorting to lowly personal insults after only a short time, debate websites instead rely on insulting ideas. They are also, though more intelligent, more long-winded and thus, more boring. Another reason I fucking hate these websites is that, other than the fact that people who have different opinions to you won't actually listen to your own debate in most cases, only going so far as to argue points in it they feel they have valid answers to, is that at no point do people ever give up their side of the argument and go, "Okay, no, I was wrong." Instead, things just get rehashed and rehashed as arguments that may last years spin around in enormous, never-ending circles as new people jump in and yell out their points - most of which have already been heard before. Yes, debate websites simply offer like-minded people to coalesce and argue with other people who've also grouped due to similar minds. Though the arguments are sophisticated and civilised and generally intelligent and, in some rare cases, valid, the entire thing remains a pointless war of opinion, in which no side dominates; each merely feels smug when they feel they've dealt a devastating blow to the competition. I do have other reasons for including debate websites in the A-Z, other than the ones I've written above. I have a personal grudge against an overzealous, religious, gangly ginger by the name of Randall "Randy" Sims, who banned me from his debate forum some time ago, though only for a period of two days. I had only joined the forum several years before because I knew people on it, but my use of it was quite limited. Though the ban was a long time ago, my limited use of the forum has since dried up and I still hold the grudge, because as far as I am concerned, in this exchange that led to my banning, I am right. Tell me what you think: Randy: (suggesting to someone what to dress up as for hallowe'en) Even better idea: You can go as Mohammad and Satan (Allah). And wear big towels over your heads, stolen from a local hotel. Be sure to remember not to bathe for a few weeks before the dance. Want to be authentic. Me: Oh Randy, you racist fucking bastard.