I participate in politics and religion forums. So I decided to write some of my general recommendations and reminders on how to particpate when people might rip out your throat for misstepping. It's an art:
1. Write the initial volley of your absolutely correct opinion in the most professionally neutral tone that you can muster. You may fail, expect to be called on it. Don't assume that people know what you're talking about, so include as much information as you can fit into the post without feeling like a blowhard.
2. When you disagree with someone, don't tell them that you disagree. Ask them why they hold such an opinion, then ask them to explain that opinion some more, and then again at least once. If you understand why people disagree with you, you're better equipped to tell them why they're wrong or at least cognizant of the concept that sometimes nothing you can say will change someone's mind. You also, in this stage, sometimes learn things that change
you mind, because you can be wrong too. If you're wrong, tell everyone you're wrong. A willingness to be wrong is critical in everyone accepting that you're right all of the rest of the times your mouth opens.
3. Disassemble their opinions for logical inconsistency. Pool resources from well spoken allies. Use references to respected websites that support your position whenever possible. Do not use adjectives except very clearly in statements such as "In my opinion" or "As I see it". Use short sentences to promote a slightly aggressive tone.
4. Reply to escalating tone with respectful one. Admit credible points existing in the other poster's replies. Repeat dissassembly of opposing viewpoint's opinion. Introduce new knowledge that may or may not be related to the discussion at hand, but seems to. Repeat any opinions, this might be a good time to use underlining, bolding, or italics to show the other posters that you recognize your own opinion even if they don't validate your own. This is the time you break out definitions, reference material, and enterprising posters use math. Even if your math is wrong, people will respect you for trying to do math. Math is good.
5. Never whine, seem defensive, or say anything to the order of "But you don't understand" or "Since you don't seem to get what I'm saying" Expect to fail. I've been on forums in one way or another since the mid 80s and I still freak out and do this wrong once in a blue moon. Once someone can't comprehend you, you've won. Bask in internet victory, don't try to beat them over the head with their misunderstanding you by getting frustrated with their lack of reading comprehension.
Sometimes it is acceptable to to edit your contentious post though: if you're telling everyone how much you want to have elf babies and they're thinking you hate elves and can't wait for 4e, then you should probably work on things offline & with a spellchecker before posting anyways.
6. Wait for "I don't see where this thread is going", your other posters to call someone or you a poopy-head, or "We'll just have to agree to disagree." Any of those answers means you've won. Go eat a cookie. Every once in a blue moon, someone else will tell you that you are right. This is proven to give all people on the internet chest hairs and bragging rights in the afterlife of your choice.
7. When all else fails. Make a cute joke, or better yet an in-joke. Never make a joke you think is funny that isn't though, so know your audience. A badly received joke is the worst of all possible things to do on the internet besides post pictures of your genitals and a note "What do you all think of this?"
Note: All stages and recommendations above work for just about any other less volatile communication, except you laugh more and actually respect the opinions of the other people posting. Except if you don't win, don't eat a cookie - They make you fat.
I think I'll restate something from 7 though: Know your audience. If you think that some idea won't be well received somewhere for some reason, it's probably not a good idea to try it out in the first place unless you've got the thickest of skins. It's always easier to start with an idea that everyone agrees with and to gentle move them over to correct and right ways of thinking than bolding your ideas that you know/feel/heard in the bathroom that everyone disagrees with in the first place. Unless you're a popular political figure that's universally adored and loved by millions you're unlikely to carry the weighty charisma to pull it off.
This is especially important in regards to the first post in
this thread: If you think that ENWorld harbors lingering resistance to a certain idea in the first place then it's probably not the best idea to challenge the status quo right from the get-go. That might not seem "right", but it's just common sense. It's why almost every netiquette book ever praises lurking, and why most people don't bring up their religious and political views with strangers they've just met. If you don't know how something will be received or know something will be received badly then you're engaging a brutal and uphill battle almost always from the start because people
hate to be wrong - and sometimes they're right.
Above all, don't write up a bunch of garbage like this on a whim and then sit paralyzed for some long minutes about whether or not to post it. Usually if you're polite and respectful, or make jokes about cookies, no one will complain. And if they do, it's only the internet and there are probably a hundred things any one of us should be doing besides wasting our time here.
The kiss of death!
