ubergeekian wrote:I found myself drawn into a long and pointless argument with a poster who, according to a private message from someone who claimed to have met him, is actually well on the downward slope of dementia.
I think there are a lot of clinically senile people on YBW.
I met up with someone who has made some unpleasent and antagonistic posts on YBW. Whilst not actually in full on dementia he was in extreme old age. In person he was just as illogical, unpleasant and critical of others, but when presented with a frail old man you make allowances which you don't make in a a debate in text. I found it easy to smile and agree with him.
On that occasion I did actually PM a few people he'd wound up to tell them they were literally mocking the afflicted. (I don't think Ubergeekian was one of them so there's at least two of these folks.)
ubergeekian wrote: . . . when presented with a frail old man you make allowances which you don't make in a a debate in text. I found it easy to smile and agree with him.
Why make allowances? An obnoxious bigoted old sod has less excuse than an obnoxious bigoted young sod, who has had less time to sort themselves out and is less likely to be in a position of power or influence. The world is ruled by bigoted, dangerous old men with their hands on the twin levers of power and money, many of whom are suffering from one kind of dementia or another (although it is not always labelled as such).
ubergeekian wrote: . . . when presented with a frail old man you make allowances which you don't make in a a debate in text. I found it easy to smile and agree with him.
Why make allowances? An obnoxious bigoted old sod has less excuse
Partly out of respect for age but mainly because there's nothing to be gained from squabbling with someone who's no longer able to offer a meaningful viewpoint & won't even remember the conversation in a day or two.
Rightly or wrongly 99pc of people smile and nod when an elderly person talks bollocks.
claymore wrote:Such patronising condesension deserves that you grow old...
I doubt I'll be lucky enough but if I do I will love people smiling and nodding at my every outrageous comment. And the necessity of being bathed by 18 year old girl is not to be grumbled at.
