I'll add something more constructive and leave it at that. While lifting, I did realize that maybe I should, instead, give some writing tips and maybe what I'm saying will make more sense. I criticized NE0N's post because it wasn't coherent and it missed the point. This is because she took a 2 paragraph post and turned it into 15 quotes. It should be noted that she isn't the only one who does this. By doing this, the meaning is lost and the debate was immediately over. Neither side was going to come to an agreement and there would certain;y be no "winner." I've since dubbed this "quote soup" This is where someone takes a full paragraph and turns it into a multi-quote mess. Instead, we're going to learn how to write a proper argument using thesis statements.
Remember in writing and English classes how the teacher made you write 5 paragraph essays? Well, that's because that is how you are suppose to write (this is how this post is structured). The style is Thesis, Support, and Conclusion. Consider my original post. My points were simple. A)Pac-Man isn't very popular. B)Pac-Man doesn't have a lot of moves that are unique to him. This is the topic of the paragraph that supports my thesis (Pac-Man wont get in). The sentences after that were supporting my points. You may notice I use the words "Although","Additionally" and "Furthermore" alot? That is because they are transition words. They work with the points around them. If you see them, it means the point before it is important and related to the following one. The problem when you start doing quote soup is that you start to take everything out of context. For example, it was very common for NE0N to make a reply to my point that was later addressed in the same paragraph. Had she not done that, she would have seen I had already addressed her point and could either consed or try a different route. But let me show you an example.
Here is a short story:
Jimmy went to the zoo with his friends. They ate cotton candy. They saw lots of animals. All in all, they had a fun time.
No let me quote soup this
Jimmy went to the zoo with his friends.
They saw lots of animals.
All in all, they had a fun time.
The first quote only tells you what happened. It doesn't give you anymore info. Did they have a bad time? Was Jimmy mauled by a lion? If you read the second sentence, you would think they are at a carnival. If you see the third, they could have been hiking ect. The same thing happens. The context is lost. The same is true for an argument. If I say "Pac-Man did poorly on a poll," that doesn't give you the whole story and it doesn't give you my whole case. Furthermore, the quotes just take up more space. Don't believe me? Quote this post (using the reply in the bottom right) and see how small those 4 quotes were in plain text. It makes a huge difference.
When replying and discussing, you need to look at the whole picture. People don't write sentence by sentence. It flows together.
When you quote soup, you really aren't listening to the other person. You will not be able to adequately understand what they are saying or what their point is. I knew our little debate was shot the minute I saw 15 quotes. How could anyone understand what I was saying? Furthermore, how could I understand what she is saying? The meaning is lost because you are debating points, not thesis. My argument is based on thesis. Replying paragraph by paragraph is fine because it is an aggregate of related points. But if you chop it up further and the meaning is lost. For instance, I could be referring to something I said 3 sentences ago. I've noticed that once I reduced the amount of quoting I do, I better understand what someone is saying. I can provide better responses and and easily understood. Cutting up into quotes is better for the writer. It makes them feel like they are winning a debate because they can counter specific points. But the reality is the debate never ends because no one will know exactly what the other was talking about. I criticize NE0N but it is a mistake I have made in the past.
When arguing or discussing, you should look at the whole. If you see two paragraphs, have no more than 2 quotes. Respond to the two paragraphs. Response to the entire support, not just the pieces that make up a whole. If you can, respond to the whole thing. Make only one quote. I'll end with this question. Is a car a bunch of parts. if you have mufflers, engines, fuel tanks and what, do you have a car? Is a car not greater than the sum of the parts. So which is greater: the sum of the sentences or the paragraph.
One more thing. Don't use ad hominids. Great way to look like a fool.
