Is someone's profile relevant to a debate?

Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (Full Version)

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Gauge -> Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 12:08:48 PM)
In another thread someone posted an interesting perspective saying that a public profile posted on the Internet for all to see is somehow invalid when entering into a debate with someone. I do agree that dragging personal attacks into a debate is paramount to a magician's sleight-of-hand used to distract the audience, but if something in the person's profile is relevant to the discussion then why is it off limits when it is a public profile? For instance and this is just a silly example: -User's Profile: I am a vegetarian and a member of PETA. -User's Post: There is nothing that I like better than a nice, juicy steak. One contradicts the other assuming of course that the person writing the post is the same as the one who wrote the profile. I fail to see how using this information cheapens a debate. Would it not be valid to point out the inconsistency? So, please let me hear your thoughts.

CallaFirestormBW -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 12:19:27 PM)
I don't know that it 'cheapens' the debate -- but I suspect that, sometimes, it dilutes the point that an individual is attempting to make, thereby thwarting the direction the debate was intended to take. Honestly, my bad, but when I'm over here, I don't usually think to go read the person's profile and compare to what they've asked here unless someone -else- goes and reads first, and finds an inconsistency... and even then, I'm as likely as not to just stick to the original post and respond to the question being -asked- instead of the presumption from the profile. Heck, things may have changed substantively for that person since xhe last updated hir profile, making what is in the profile essentially irrelevant to the question at hand. In any case, I think that the profile is neither completely irrelevant nor completely germane to any given debate. Dame Calla

Esinn -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 12:21:23 PM)
I am missing the context. In a debate research is a necessity. Obtaining available public information is part of that. In professional negotiation/debate it is called, "Business Intelligence".

Esinn -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 12:25:59 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: CallaFirestormBW I don't know that it 'cheapens' the debate -- but I suspect that, sometimes, it dilutes the point that an individual is attempting to make, thereby thwarting the direction the debate was intended to take. Honestly, my bad, but when I'm over here, I don't usually think to go read the person's profile and compare to what they've asked here unless someone -else- goes and reads first, and finds an inconsistency... and even then, I'm as likely as not to just stick to the original post and respond to the question being -asked- instead of the presumption from the profile. Heck, things may have changed substantively for that person since xhe last updated hir profile, making what is in the profile essentially irrelevant to the question at hand. In any case, I think that the profile is neither completely irrelevant nor completely germane to any given debate. Dame Calla I do not have desire to compare a profile to the words - in context of this forum I just see no need. I've really do not believe there would be a discussion here that I would be passionate enough to go seek out such information. That said people I have entered into conversations here.... I have appreciated what people have said. Their words have motivated me to look at their profile. I notice this is true for me as well. When I make a post I frequently get profile hits or messages.

LaTigresse -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 1:02:14 PM)
If I see a person behaving like a total idiot in the forums I usually go look at their profile to see if it reflects the idiocy I am seeing, or if there is something about that person I am missing. It can be very helpful to know if you are dealing with a total moron that isn't even worth the bother of debating with.

Kalista07 -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 1:58:43 PM)
Gauge, For the most part i think i agree with LaT... If the post is well written or well thought out..at least coherent thought process..many times it does not even occur to me to check the profile. However, i feel like if someone as oblivious as me is aware to check a person's profile than yes, i think it's fair game. i think some people (for various reasons) make decisions to put themselves out there is such a way that they completely come off as a complete jack ass that they leave the readers no choice but to read their profile. And when you read a person's profile and find even more off the wall things like not only do they eat steak...But they collect dead pig heads...well... i think it's imperative at times to call them out on that behavior. Just my thoughts, Kali

Vendaval -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 2:17:55 PM)
Like La T, I will frequently check profiles to get a sense of the personality of the poster. My first impressions are usually confirmed and some of the profiles provide fodder for a flame fest. Good to see you posting again, Gauge. Best wishes for your band.

kdsub -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 2:20:33 PM)
Perhaps they are just playing the devils advocate for the discussion... or fun. It is also a good way to learn something by defending an opposing view…I often do that to spur discussion in a thread when I feel it has potential or areas that are not being brought out. So the bottom line… are you into the discussion to teach, learn, or win… If you need to win then sure go ahead and search their profiles for an edge otherwise just judge their words and limit your comments to the post. Butch

DomImus -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 2:53:07 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Gauge if something in the person's profile is relevant to the discussion then why is it off limits when it is a public profile? If it's relevant to the discussion at hand then it is not off limits. I've seen threads where an OP will espouse an opinion and ask a question and then someone will check their profile and find that the OP is 21 and immediately dismiss their opinion as that of a youngster. That's unfair but it happens all the time.

slaveboyforyou -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 3:11:15 PM)
Sorry, there are those of us that don't give a flying fuck about wrestling. If you want to scare people, well fuck off. It's not scary to intimidate the helpless. Luckily it's state law that the police don't have to participate in this kind of nonsense.

MissDominae -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 3:34:03 PM)
Like many of the posters here, an interesting, challenging, thought provoking or otherwise motivating post from someone might see me go and visit their profile .... and I know that people have checked mine for the same reasons; I have made a number of new friends that way and welcome it. Would I challenge someone over an inconsistency between their profile and their post? No, unless the post was directly relevant to or made in reference to their profile. Even then, I'd think twice about it. Quite simply, the post may not be about themselves per se, it may be a shared profile, the post may be of the 'devils advocate' type deliberately designed to stimulate thought and comment or there may be a host of other reasons for the variance, none of which may invalidate the original question asked or the matters raised by the poster. Most often though - as my posting numbers will tell you - I don't bother. I post rarely and then only on topics which interest me and which I think I may have something cogent to add or to ask; I usually have far better things with which to occupy my time and don't 'live on the computer' so for me to go to so much trouble generally means I have liked what I read and am looking to continue friendly contact. To scan a profile just to find material with which to flame someone or attack a position taken in a post is, for me, a waste of effort. To use what I found there to contradict a post or a stated position on a subject would mean that the post was on a topic very dear to me and I felt it necessary to do so for the sake of my own principles as well as worth my investment of time. This is in no way meant to be rude, but very few posts on here are worth that investment. Thank you for the original question Gauge. Reading between the lines, it would appear the question is in some way related to another thread and refers to some specific incident or comment. I haven't looked into it to find out more and so have answered the OP based only on its question posed. Blessings ....... Livvi

DemonKia -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 3:47:57 PM)
FR, after read thru Excellent. I had a post I'd started to address that issue in that thread that I held back on posting as I felt it was too much of a derailment . .. So, thanks, Gauge, for starting this thread. It's an excellent topic to dissect . . . . . I'm gonna condense some of that argument against using profiles (& the link takes you to that particular post that started this discussion), cuz it's relevant to the points I wanted to make on the topic: referencing the content of profiles is akin to ad hominem; & that the profile, especially if it's full of honest detail, gives "cheap and easy fodder for this sort of attack. You really don't have to dig hard to find something to discredit a speaker with..." * The technique of looking to profiles is regularly used here to expose the strongly trollish . . . . . & lots of those specifically do have to do with the poster's profile -- 'why can't I find anybody' threads particularly spring to mind . .. . . * How it is used can lead to ad hom, but is not in & of itself ad hom, in my opinion. * I've had the snide-snipers come look at my profile before posting some scathing whatever in response to something I said here, & it didn't work. & I've got a ton of info, very honest (too honest, if that's possible) . . .. My experience is that the intense honesty & full disclosure thing gets in the way of accurate personal attacks, & there's nothing to get in the way of inaccurate personal attacks. Partly that's because, to the degree that I'm a self-aware asshole it's tough to shake me by calling me on it . . .. . . Those who are more covert about their asshole nature would seem to be at more risk for getting called on it in an uncomfortable way . .. . . . & some degree of asshole nature can be discerned from the combination of postings & profile . . . . * If one wants to post here on CM & not have that profile provide fodder for rebuttal, there's always the option to hide one's profile. There are several regular posters who've done that, &, in part, I get that sense cuz of a few who regularly post fairly inflammatory stuff & have hidden their profiles . . . . . * Posting strongly worded & rather extreme opinions is likely to be followed by strong rebuttals, & is likely to subject the opinion sharer to scrutiny. It becomes a case of staying out of the kitchen if one cannot take the heat . . .. . . * There's an issue, for me, of fact versus opinion: someone's profile has nothing to do with a discussion of facts, but when it comes to the sharing of opinions what's in a profile can be very germane to the stated opinions . . . . .

Level -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 4:43:19 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Gauge In another thread someone posted an interesting perspective saying that a public profile posted on the Internet for all to see is somehow invalid when entering into a debate with someone. I do agree that dragging personal attacks into a debate is paramount to a magician's sleight-of-hand used to distract the audience, but if something in the person's profile is relevant to the discussion then why is it off limits when it is a public profile? For instance and this is just a silly example: -User's Profile: I am a vegetarian and a member of PETA. -User's Post: There is nothing that I like better than a nice, juicy steak. One contradicts the other assuming of course that the person writing the post is the same as the one who wrote the profile. I fail to see how using this information cheapens a debate. Would it not be valid to point out the inconsistency? So, please let me hear your thoughts. You pretty much answered it, Gauge. If there is something relevant, then it's fair game. If it isn't, say, the person is gay, and someone takes that and starts launching homophobic comments in order to just be hurtful, then no, that ain't cool.

sub4hire -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 4:45:23 PM)
I see a profile as someone putting on a show. They are trying to show off for you. Putting on their best face. It doesn't really reflect upon who they actually are in many cases. So, no I don't think it should start a debate no matter what they say. On the other hand I have turned people in if they have mentioned children in a not so good way in their profiles in the past.

nephandi -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 4:59:35 PM)
Greetings I would say that a person's profile can give a hint as to what sort of person you are dealing with, but it do not either validate or invalidate their opinions, how can a few paragraphs of texts on a web page ever hope to tell how a person really are good enough to say if they are fit for a debate or not. Sounds like the one you where talking with was out to make a cheap point in an debate that had already become an argument. I wish you well

JonnieBoy -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 5:15:13 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Gauge In another thread someone posted an interesting perspective saying that a public profile posted on the Internet for all to see is somehow invalid when entering into a debate with someone. I do agree that dragging personal attacks into a debate is paramount to a magician's sleight-of-hand used to distract the audience, but if something in the person's profile is relevant to the discussion then why is it off limits when it is a public profile? For instance and this is just a silly example: -User's Profile: I am a vegetarian and a member of PETA. -User's Post: There is nothing that I like better than a nice, juicy steak. One contradicts the other assuming of course that the person writing the post is the same as the one who wrote the profile. I fail to see how using this information cheapens a debate. Would it not be valid to point out the inconsistency? So, please let me hear your thoughts. Since you're not keen on rap music your opinion is clearly valid [;)] More seriously, it seems to me that the content of ones profile could be a very valid issue in a debate, not only as far as inconsistency, but in terms of validating consistency too. (And besides which if we vote against any feasible reason for perving each others profiles, the place is gone downhill and no mistake !!!! ) Pirate

Kalista07 -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 5:40:38 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: slaveboyforyou Sorry, there are those of us that don't give a flying fuck about wrestling. If you want to scare people, well fuck off. It's not scary to intimidate the helpless. Luckily it's state law that the police don't have to participate in this kind of nonsense. i'm not trying to be offensive here...but.... Either share what you are smoking or stop smoking that stuff!! i'm pretty confused... Can You explain? Kali

NuevaVida -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 7:34:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Level You pretty much answered it, Gauge. If there is something relevant, then it's fair game. If it isn't, say, the person is gay, and someone takes that and starts launching homophobic comments in order to just be hurtful, then no, that ain't cool. What Level said :)

SassySarijane -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 8:08:10 PM)
~Fast Reply~ It can be. As another poster mentioned, it can help identify some of the blatant trolls, it can show inconsistancies as well as consistancies. It can be either a positive or negative to what the poster is saying. I regularly check the profiles of posters to help me better get an idea of who they are and if they might be playing around or trolling or are sincere. Not a foolproof method, but one out of several that can be helpful.

Gauge -> RE: Is someone's profile relevant to a debate? (7/15/2009 9:04:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: slaveboyforyou Sorry, there are those of us that don't give a flying fuck about wrestling. If you want to scare people, well fuck off. It's not scary to intimidate the helpless. Luckily it's state law that the police don't have to participate in this kind of nonsense. I don't get it. Maybe that was the point?[&:]

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