Why do people have to be mean when they debate?
Debate is supposed to be a team effort to figure out what's true. Instead, people act like you're attacking them personally. They get angry and rude, especially on the internet. I asked a couple of well-intentioned questions in a certain online forum about a controversial subject. I just wanted to see if people would come up with ideas I wouldn't have had, myself. People treated me like I was stupid or had ulterior motives.
I'm wondering what causes people to be like this. Unfortunately, I used to be like this. My theory is that it starts in the home. We didn't discuss feelings or debate different ideas in my family. My parents just taught me to think whatever they thought and see the other side as evil or misguided.
Or maybe it's a personal identity thing. At one point, I felt that I was my beliefs, so if I lost them, I didn't know who I'd become. Maybe people feel like if you question what they think, you're attempting to kill their soul. If that is what's happening, it's ridiculous, but maybe they're not aware of it?