Perhaps I should have instead disputed whether the ‘topic matter’ was ‘given’.
Yes, that would have made your point responsive, and have prevented you from falsely accusing me of a basic error. Please exercise caution when someone’s comment initially appears to you to be rather stupid—you may need to look at the context some more.
Wouldn’t you need a supporting example or something, though?
Seriously—let it go. You entered a thread without having read the surrounding discussion closely enough. No big deal, we all goof sometimes. We don’t all try to make it look noble, though.
My impression is that by continuing to reply but dropping the posturing required to maintain decorum and expressing frustration rather than fully engaging in the business of clever re-framing you allow him to look noble at your expense. The unfortunate thing is that the actions required to look noble are usually at odds with actually being noble. To gain social reward, either don’t engage (taking your initial positive impression) or ruthlessly battle for the moral high ground using (and bending) whatever tactics of debate are allowed by your tribe.
ETR: Okay, let me tone that reply down.
Yes, that would have made your point responsive, and have prevented you from falsely accusing me of a basic error. Please exercise caution when someone’s comment initially appears to you to be rather stupid—you may need to look at the context some more.
Indeed.
I feel I should be pointing out some sort of humorous irony here, but I’m afraid I’m not that clever.
Wouldn’t you need a supporting example or something, though?
Seriously—let it go. You entered a thread without having read the surrounding discussion closely enough. No big deal, we all goof sometimes. We don’t all try to make it look noble, though.
My impression is that by continuing to reply but dropping the posturing required to maintain decorum and expressing frustration rather than fully engaging in the business of clever re-framing you allow him to look noble at your expense. The unfortunate thing is that the actions required to look noble are usually at odds with actually being noble. To gain social reward, either don’t engage (taking your initial positive impression) or ruthlessly battle for the moral high ground using (and bending) whatever tactics of debate are allowed by your tribe.