Don't Let the Bright Moon Shine on Canals – Don't Argue with Brainless People About Superiority
Nowadays, it's lamented that the values of people in society are severely divided, and even though we are like hand-in-hand relatives, we argue over a single matter due to differing viewpoints, resulting in red faces and ears burning, and even abusive words.
I have observed many 'debates,' and often found myself caught in the whirlpool of arguments. I've found a certain 'pattern' to this phenomenon:Chinese-style debates aren't genuine debates; they're usually a result of unequal speaking rights, leading to awkward confrontations.When people start to 'argue,' they inevitably become emotionally heightened, leading to inappropriate remarks.
Unequal speaking rights refer to the fact that the disputing parties do not communicate within the same context or at the same level. The argument about 'chicken and egg' is actually about 'chicken and duck,' completely unrelated, and therefore they inevitably say different things and express their dissatisfaction differently.
For example, once I mentioned the courtesy of Japanese people, and a classmate strongly disagreed, accusing me of whitewashing Japanese people, reviving their national pride, and extinguishing China's prestige.
I didn't respond, because I realized we were not speaking on the same platform, and he was saying something completely different. He later became agitated and started cursing. I still maintained a neutral attitude until he disappeared from the discussion.
Years later, we happened to meet, and he gave me a 'look down on others' hat. At that time, I readily accepted it and told him: I truly despise you, not because of your lack of money, nor because your car is not good, but because you have a useless brain, a brain that only knows how to eat and doesn't know how to think. When we discuss problems, there is no premise and no outcome. We are going in completely different directions, so how can we discuss them?
I have always advocated thatOne should not discuss problems with people who don't think, especially not argue with people who don't think.
Thinking is the prerequisite for communication; although the level of thinking may be very different, it's like comparing a plane and a howitzer – it's not a difference between a propeller and a jet engine.
If you talk to someone who doesn't know about airplanes, how can you have a common topic?
Even though we all live under the same roof, due to differences in experience, reading, and thinking, we have become completely alienated.
Thinking starts with 'thinking.' 'Thinking' is about critical thinking and reflection. To think critically and reflect, you need experience. A person's experience comes from reading and observation.If a person never reads or reads very little, how can they have the basic critical thinking ability?
And the test of thinking requires an even higher level of requirements. 'Testing' refers to questioning, examining, considering. Without sufficient knowledge and experience, how can you question, examine, consider, or examine?
The fact is: most people are not good at thinking. They follow the trend, willingly to be mediocre, and are essentially driven by the times. If they happen to encounter an era of uniform public opinion, the situation is even simpler. They simply follow their 'feelings,' taking 'conformity' as their duty, and treating 'consensus' as a benchmark. Such people not only lack basic thinking ability but also lack common sense.
As George Eliot said: 'Many people would rather die than think. In fact, they truly did not think. Thinking is a difficult thing for most people, a difficult task.'
Why is thinking so difficult? Because thinking requires effort – a lot of reading, spending money to gain experience, and then racking your brain and thinking hard. Even so, many people still can't figure it out. If you truly become a thinker, you'll stop relying on guesswork and blindly following the crowd.
Debating issues starts with the assumption that both parties are thinkers. Only then can they discuss the same topic.
Normal debates, such as academic debates, truth debates, the sides involved have no absolute right or wrong. Because there is debate, there must be a common platform. It's like a boxing match; a swordsman can't fight someone who has no defense.
As for those who immediately put hats on people and wield sticks, they are not arguing with you; they are simply making unreasonable demands.For such people, you should either avoid them, stay away, or simply ignore them, asking them to be quiet. They are actually very pitiful; they don't study, don't read, don't think, yet they want to show off and gain attention, to demonstrate that they are an influential thinker.
For example, regarding the Korean War, there have been many debates. However, some people who don't fully understand the Korean War, and those who are only influenced by the song 'Tall, Tall, Proudly Crossing the Yalu River to Safeguard Peace and the Motherland,' when debating who is right or wrong, isn't that like putting a pig on a bicycle? Is it fair to teach a dog to bark?
Debates also require shared logical skills. If you argue with someone who doesn't understand logic, you'll inevitably get lost in tangents.
Some people constantly change concepts and the debate has become irrelevant. Continuing to talk will only lead to a futile argument.
It's not that they're desperately trying to make a point; they simply don't understand that debates should focus on a single topic, which is the foundation of discussion.
But such common sense is often considered 'unreasonable.' What is the point of arguing with people?
Some people have formed fixed thought patterns, and the source of these patterns is decades of single-minded propaganda. Such people can't be shaken by their patterns, unless there is a major change.
Many years later, if someone asked me, what contributions did you make to society back then, I would say: I have disseminated many texts full of humanity, conscience, and radiating justice, and I refused to merge with evil.
(Written by Gao Huan)
