Internet Fights with Rude Strangers — How to Win Over the Situation?
Not gonna lie. These kinds of situations get me almost every single time. It makes me either want to throw away my phone out of the balcony or teleport wherever they are and choke them to death.
I like to argue in the social media comment sections, but sometimes people can come off too strong and straight-out rude due to differences in intelligence, education levels, or maybe some anger issues.
They only want to win and feel the satisfaction. But that is not how you win an argument. Profanity and even threats to others are not the road we should take. Sometimes we have to take the high road. I mean, the perpetuation of violence is never-ending. I mean, how destructive can one become? If you become the bad guy yourself, you won’t win either.
"But don’t you believe we should teach them some lessons? Especially when they are way over their heads and need a major ego check?"
Well yes, but you’re not accountable for their actions or well-being. Everyone has to be able to take care of themselves and educate themselves. Plus, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That’s the fundamental principle of science from Newton. Oprah rephrased it in her speech as well. Engaging in negative behaviour and displaying a particular demeanour tends to attract similar situations. Retaliation is unnecessary; their own actions have consequences.
“Everything you have done to me, already done to you.” — Celie from The Color Purple
1. Take a Big Gulp of Air
Yes, take a deep breath. When faced with such situations, it’s common to forget to breathe and we go all frantic. You get into 1000 different scenarios on how to make them suffer. Would that be a good idea? Yes maybe— no, not really. Inflicting harm to others in real life or on the internet can lead to legal consequences these days if you think about it.
Instead, try taking calm, deep breaths. It helps in calming down your thoughts. The calmer your state of mind, the more control you have over the situation. This increased composure enhances your chances of approaching the argument level-headedly, giving you a better chance of asserting yourself. Show them who’s the boss!
2. Understand that it’s not Personal
Sometimes, they did get to you. When they hit the sensitive spot, you wonder how on earth they uncovered that one concealed truth about you. Perhaps were are right. They got a point. Even though they expressed it in the least pleasant way possible.
Reassess the whole argument, take your time, and flip the table on them. Turn your soft spot into your strength wherever you come with your argument. Most importantly, don’t let them know they have hit a sensitive spot. From my experience, if you let them know, they will keep attacking your sensitive spot, making your whole argument unreasonable because of your personal things. And before you know it, you lose all your cool and retaliate harshly. To avoid that, approach what they said with a neutral perspective.
Keep in mind when they are rude to you, they’re not on the same level as you are. It’s not about you, it’s always about them. They’re the ones in pain. That’s why they lash out easily without considering their integrity. It is doable to argue without profanity, threats or manipulation. When you come from a place of love, you wouldn’t be doing such harm to others.
“Hurt people, hurt people.” — Chip Dodd
3. Empatise or — Show Them Pity
I’ve seen a cringe comment on the internet such as, “Oh honey, who hurt you?” You can invent new lines! Be observant and be playful about it. It could either lighten the situation or anger them even more. Stay relevant. Keep in mind not to use any profanity and stoop to their level.
Empathizing with them and expressing love can have a powerful impact. It may lead them to feel a sense of shame or self-awareness. Especially, when their insults and aggression don’t seem to affect you at all. Indeed, their response can vary — they might stop responding or escalate their aggression. The key is to avoid reacting to their insults. Maintaining a calm demeanour in your argument.
4. Prove them wrong!
Yes! Show them facts! No one can argue with facts. Do your research. Presenting facts is a formidable strategy. My professor once told me to use websites with .gov, .edu, books, news, and other reliable sources with scientific research to enhance the credibility of your argument. Being cautious with blogs is crucial, as they might lack objectivity and lean towards subjectivity. Emphasizing objectivity, especially with facts, is vital. I believe you understand this concept if you’ve completed your first degree and written your thesis. Everything has to be objective.
Arguing with facts not only strengthens your position but also provides a solid foundation for your audience to comprehend and appreciate your perspective. Keep emphasizing the importance of evidence-based arguments for a more compelling case.
5. Forgive them and let them go with love
Oh, hell no! Who wants to chicken out of an argument? But if it turns into trash talk and nonsense unrelated to the initial topic, it’s time to decide it’s not worth it anymore.
Let It go. It’s essential to recognize when an argument is no longer productive. Instead of letting frustrations linger, redirect your time and energy toward something that serves you. Don’t take your frustrations on the some randos on the internet. Whatever is bothering you in real life, try to find a healthy way to deal with them.
Dwelling on painful words throughout the day isn’t worth it, even if some things they said personally injured you. Prioritising your psychological well-being and focusing on positive activities can contribute to a healthier mind. Channel your energy into more productive activities! It will reduce the likelihood of attracting similar negative experiences.
Optional Read — Personal Stories
Today, I got banned from sub Reddit for no clear reason. I attacked the moderator when I got the chance because I felt like it was unfair to me. I wasn’t the wisest person. I didn’t use profanities, but I did some damage. I felt guilty afterwards. Even though they deserved it.
I kept mulling over the situation and eventually attracted an equally annoying situation. I was playing a game when my teammates used profanities on me. I retorted with some other profanities, though it didn’t make me feel good. It stooped me down to their level. Match after match it kept happening until I decided to feel better and do something else more productive. I decided I wanted to feel good and those kids weren’t worth it.
The rest of the day went smoothly without any more disruptive encounters. Sometimes, we just need to let go and focus on something else that is worthy of our time. I mean, I’m an educated person. I don’t need to be engaging in such stuff. So shouldn’t you.
Hope that helps :)
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Thank you for reading
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