Do you know how to deal with an irrational or illogical person?

[CK_John]

This is the most confusing thing in the world for someone who expects a rational response. It doesn't matter if your a person on a forum or the President. If Obama doesn't get a handle on running against a purposeful irrational campaign very soon, he will not have a second term.

Since my heart attack in 09 and my age(73), I realize I'm not as quick as I use to be. To me it seems as if the forum has become irrational and uncivil. Not the majority but a small but nasty group, who don't know the difference between "what could be" and "what will be".

I'm going to keep reading but will not be posting until after the election in Dec.

[Speck Tater]

1. There's really only one way to deal with an irrational person.

Turn around and walk away.

Anything else is a waste of time and serves no end but to raise your blood pressure.

[Cleita]

12. I agree.

There is no sense in trying to reason with a crazy person. Just walk away.

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. Both logic and rationality seem to be in the eye of the beholder these days.

And not just here on the web, but IRL as well. We seem to have lost all sense of commonality, let alone community. See you in November.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Pres. Obama needs to bypass Rmoney and talk to rational voters.

I think the debates will define this race. There will come a point when even the media can't make Rmoney look good.

[ZombieHorde]

4. I think people have reasons for their opinions, so I start by trying to understand their position.

I think "irrational" means "uses a different belief system," so two people can think of themselves as rational, but think the other person is irrational.

[eridani]

5. I recommend guerilla ontology

Best defined by example. Suppose there are two women in a mental hospital who think that they are the Virgin Mary. Introduce them to each other and one of them will get well.

IOW, rationality won't work. Try analyzing what the underlying world view of the irrational person is. Ask yourself "What would have to be true statements about reality in order for the world view to be rational." Undermine those assumptions, and possibly cracks in the world view will later appear.

[bigmonkey]

13. Along that line, call Republican/right wing views "unnatural".

My assessment is that "Our beliefs and our behavior are natural" is the underlying structure in a lot of the right-wing messaging. Undermine it by using terms like unnatural, perverse, etc. to describe the right-wing positions. It's easy to do, too, because it's true!

[freshwest]

6. I understand, that's why my Ignore list is big. I don't miss those who use snarks and curses.

As far as dealing with irrational and illogical people IRL, I handle them like a small child or a dog. After a while, though it wears on one, anywhere.

When someone is being purposefully hurtful, it's hard to handle physically and I've taken nolabear's advice on this a while back, to get up and walk away.

I don't come here to have to fight with someone, to 'win' over them to feel the thrill of some ephemeral victory. I come here to learn from fellow Democrats and progressives, not have to defend myself from wing nut talking points no matter how they're dressed up.

And not to laugh at someone else's pain even if I don't understand it. I'm sorry that you have to stop posting for a while and hope the election goes as it should.

[turtlerescue1]

7. HUMOR

for yourself.

Seek to leave and amuse yourself with laughter. Or guess I could share the tips I got while bartending:
Don't bet on the ponies.
Stay out of dark allies.
Cross with the lights
Never argue with an intoxicated mind.

[patrice]

8. Please don't be too discouraged. It IS better here than it used to be. I REALLY do see more

rational, not so insulting, debate of actual issues instead of personalities.

That said, there are things that go on here that DO give one pause to question WHAT is happening. I have had a few of these experiences targeted more or less at me and have decided that the best thing to do is to write your best stuff, most rational points, least loaded language, focus, focus, focus AND DO NOT PLAY THEIR GAME. Don't respond to bullshit, focus on communicating effectively with everyone else. Take the high road; in addition to the pleasure of being more possibly valid, you also have the fine revenge of leaving the ravers gnashing their teeth in the night.

You can also post to Meta to get some consideration/discussion about how well this forum works and whatever your issues are in a given thread.

Hang in there CK_John! Your perspective may be needed here. Just take it easy, at your own pace and . . .

Never. give. up!

[HopeHoops]

9. Yes. Every time I look in the mirror.

[patrice]

10. P.S. There's a lot of that going around, arrogance and bad logic, some REALLY is innocent, so we

need to deal with those appropriately. They're not ALL trolls.

[randome]

11. I think Obama DOES have a handle on this.

If you confront illogic on its own terms, you lose. He does not lose his cool. He stays focused on what counts.