The infinite debate

Hello fellow thinker!

This week I was feeling emotionally drained and got sucked into my phone. Started scrolling on X then moved into YouTube.

I’ll be the first to admit it—I don’t usually scroll through endless streams of content. I’m that guy who points out to my kids and my wife how they could be doing something more productive, more meaningful with their time. But, every now and then, I find myself falling into that same trap. And where do I end up? Watching debates. Not the formal kind, mind you, but the messy, chaotic, sometimes cringe-worthy exchanges where people just go at it.

There’s something about watching a good debate that’s just... satisfying. Especially when one side thinks they’ve got the upper hand, only to get cornered by a really sharp question or a well-thought-out argument. It’s that moment of tension where you wonder, “How are they going to respond to that?” And then, more often than not, they don’t. Instead, they sidestep, deflect, or go on the attack. It’s like watching a car wreck—you can’t look away, even though you know how it’s going to end.

And this is where it gets interesting—when people are cornered, they often resort to some pretty creative tactics to avoid admitting they might be wrong. One of the classics is whataboutism—you know, when someone deflects criticism by saying, “Well, what about this other issue?” It’s a clever way to dodge the point and shift the focus. It’s like arguing that you shouldn’t clean your room because your sibling’s room is messy too. It doesn’t solve the problem; it just distracts from it.

Then there’s the good old straw man argument. This is when someone misrepresents their opponent’s position, making it easier to attack. Imagine someone saying, “So you’re against war? That must mean you hate the military.” It’s not what the other person said, but it’s an easier stance to argue against. This tactic can make someone look like they’re winning the debate, but it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Another favorite is ad hominem attacks, where instead of addressing the argument, people go after the person making it. It’s like saying, “Well, of course you’d think that—you’re just a [insert insult here].” It’s a cheap shot that doesn’t add anything to the conversation, but it’s surprisingly effective at derailing a discussion.

These tactics are everywhere, and once you start noticing them, it’s hard to stop. Whether it’s social identity politics, climate change, the war between Russia and Ukraine, or the Israel-Palestine conflict—these are weighty, important topics that deserve thoughtful discussion. But too often, these debates turn into a spectacle where nobody really wins. People just dig in their heels, and the whole thing ends up being more about scoring points than actually understanding each other.

And here’s where I start to get uncomfortable. When debates stop being about ideas and start being about pushing an agenda—whether it’s for profit, power, or just to hurt someone else—that’s where I draw the line. I’ve got my own opinions, shaped by my experiences and my relationships, just like everyone else. But the problem comes when we get swept up in groupthink or, worse, when we get involved in what I’d call a cult of thought—where people blindly follow a leader or a movement without questioning it.

I’m not for that. I’m not here to tell anyone what to think, but I am here to say: think for yourself. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the drama, to pick a side because it feels good to belong to something bigger. But at what cost? I’ve seen too many people get lost in the noise, losing sight of their own values and beliefs because they’ve been swept up by the passion of the crowd.

So, here’s where I stand: watch the debates, enjoy the spectacle if that’s your thing—I do, after all—but don’t get too deep unless you’ve got a personal stake in it. And even then, remember to keep your own mind clear. The world’s messy enough without us adding to it by losing ourselves in someone else’s agenda.

At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to make sense of this crazy world through our own lens. Let’s just make sure it’s our lens, not someone else’s.

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Keep thinking, my friends!

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