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Week 7 - Argument & Debate

When it comes to the idea of what an argument is, people tend to think negatively of it. They see it as a thing that provides negativity and that can be true in some cases, however it is simply a thing where one disagrees and the other tries to prove their opposing point, an explanation or a justification. I have seen many arguments, especially online. It has proven itself to be a place where it invites people to justify their opposing views of whatever is being said/seen. I have seen it on social media apps such as TikTok, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube comments sections, and so many more. I have chosen a Reddit post that I saw the other day and thought would be a good idea to analyze here. 

Post's Full URL: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1hkbazs/cmv_tiktok_is_terrible_for_gen_z/ 

Why did I choose this online argument for your assignment? 

This was a post I saw recently and I thought the posts as well as replies consisted of what is relevant in our society (common usage of social media). It also consisted of an event that happened last month where TikTok got banned for less than a day in the United States. The main poster of the argument does bring up good points the harm TikTok does provide to the younger generation. The people who have replied also have brought up a good point that it is not exclusive to TikTok, but to other social media apps as well. 

Three negative examples and concerns I have with this online argument. 


First Negative/Concern Example: At the end of the post they said, "this is turning into a rant, so here are 10 other points Chatgpt (sic) generated."  I do feel like this invalidates the credibility of the original poster as they have to rely on an AI tool to generate points for them. It leads to people thinking that they are unable to do research. 

Second Negative/Concern Example: The original poster and the people who have replied have not provided sources to back up their argument. They may have seen it themselves, but some people may have not seen it and this can lead to doubts of whether this is true or not. 

Third Negative/Concern Example: A concern that I have is that reason three they have listed does slightly seem personal. It is okay to be personal when it comes to arguments/debates (especially if it is a topic you are heavily into such as LGBTQ+ rights or POC rights). This could be argued against by stating that it is simply preferences and not just "brainrot." 



Five rules for how people should argue online more constructively. 

First Rule / Sources: We will need sources that can prove that TikTok and/or other social media apps damage your attention span and other points they have stated. This can prove their argument even further and lead to more people agreeing with them. Basically this rule is just asking for sources, so they can develop some credibility for the opposing side. Provide examples of the "brainrot" memes too. People may ask what would be considered "brainrot" memes. 

Second Rule / No AI Tools: No usage of AI tools. It may be good to use for inspiration, but it should not be a tool to rely on when coming up with points for your argument. Is it really a good argument if it isn't your own thoughts/words? 

Third Rule / Believe Your Argument Until it Has Been Proven Wrong: Do not question yourself in an argument. Writing a sentence like, "But idk. Maybe I'm just reading into things to (sic) much," will lead to the opposing side to think you do not believe in your argument. This rule is excluding the whole idea of your opponent trying to justify/explain their argument to the other person, but is talking about the tone/words used. 

Fourth Rule / Listen: It is one of the important things to an argument. Listen to your opposing side. It can lead to people thinking you are stubborn and extremely biased. It can also lead to misinformation and can cause difficulties between both sides. Listening is also respectful as well and shows how willing you are to understand them. In this case, people have provided a point that it also applies to other social media apps and not just TikTok. This would be crucial information to listen to. 

Fifth Rule / Common Ground: I think this is another one of the most important rules here. When you have no common ground in an argument this can lead to difficulties with the other person or people. It can cause the argument to go on forever and this is why a common ground is important. It could provide fewer difficulties as well as a quicker route to solving the issues. 

Overall, arguments can bring negativity, but it can be a good thing too. It provides a way to express your views and a way for the other side as well. It is almost like exchanging information, in a way. Arguments can also provide awareness to topics that people may not even know about. Find a common ground, listen to others, and make sure you are not wavering in your beliefs will be effective in communicating your argument. 

References:

The Rhetorical Act: Thinking, Speaking, and Writing Critically, 5th Edition (2015). . Copyright Clearance Center.

R/changemyview on reddit: CMV: Tiktok is terrible for gen Z. (n.d.). https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1hkbazs/cmv_tiktok_is_terrible_for_gen_z/ 

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