iPod Fans Show We All Need to Learn How to Debate Respectfully

• Tweet
• Email
• Sharebar

• Tweet
• Email

A note before we get started with this post: Not every commenter on the Zune/iPod post was disrespectful. There were several commenters who were iPod fans that clearly read my side of the story, and added their two cents thoroughly and respectfully. Thanks to those of you who did!

Where this all starts…

Last week, on a whim, I wrote a 1:00am post entitled, Why Apple’s Success Makes No Sense to Me, and Why the Zune Breaks My Heart. It was a little opinion piece defending my position that the Microsoft Zune is the best music experience you can get from a portable player, and that the iPod/iPhone was more focused on applications instead – the “jack of all trades, master of none” argument.

Little did I know the can of worms I would open!

As I was sawing wood (sleeping to those of you who don’t get that), my article was linked to on a website called MacSurfer, where the Apple fans of the world congregate and read articles about iPods. As a result, well over 500 visitors came through last Saturday, and many of them had choice words for me, a Zune fan.

Most comments made me laugh. Some made me simply shake my head. I think it’s time we all learn how to discuss an issue with respect to all parties involved. The media has shown us the wrong way all too often in today’s politics. The internet has made it possible for us to talk to each other in ways we would never communicate face-to-face. Our attitudes are shifting, and it’s a problem. Using some of the comments as illustrations, let’s take a look at the right way, and the wrong way, to debate:

1. Before you say something, recognize the magnitude of the issue

Let’s take a step back: a blogger who averages 75 hits a day on a good day made comments on a portable media player. He was not insulting your choice of media player, he was simply explaining his.

I’m a nobody right now in the wide world of the internet. I plan to be somebody, and I am taking steps to do so, but by and large, I hold very little authority in the grand scheme. I didn’t write the post for MacSurfer. In fact, I didn’t even know the site existed! I didn’t market the blog post at all before things started going haywire. In other words, they came to me. All I was doing was expressing an opinion.

And also, think about the topic: portable media players. That’s it. We’re not talking about universal health care, legalizing marijuana, public education, or censorship in the media. We are talking about gadgets that play music and video. This is not earth-shattering stuff. This is not stuff that will cause your children great pain when they grow up. This is a recreational topic. If you are dealing with a topic that really doesn’t affect your life, take a deep breath before entering your response. It’s not that big of a deal!

My favorite comment about the post was from my cousin, Ethan, which he posted on Facebook:

2. Resorting to personal insults make you look small

"Tech nerds are not, and never have been, the target market for the post-Macintosh (1984+) Apple. Apple software and hardware just works. Actual people like that. Crawl back into your parent’s basement and keep running Windoze on your self-constructed PC.”

“Dear Nerds, Keep using Microsoft programs and products. They are perfect. For you at least. And you can score with a girl too! Because PCs with Windows installed are so crappy that no normal person can figure out how to fix them when something goes wrong (type one of hundreds of problems you encountered with your pc), there must be tons of chicks just waiting for someone to fix that pc for them. If you don’t like Apple, Mac or whatever, just don’t use it. Stop writing bullshit and annoying people.”

First, a word of warning to all of you who comment on The Practical Nerd: if you want to offend me, calling me a “nerd” won’t do anything. That’s a compliment to me. And if you find my writing “annoying”, then don’t read it. There’s a lot of other stuff to read online.

We are not on the playground in elementary school anymore. So many people online today think that they will look like a big shot if they personally insult somebody they’ve never met. In fact, the only thing these people know about me is that I like my Zune. Apparently that is grounds for calling me names, “yelling” at me, and making various insults about my manhood.

Stick to the topic at hand. Don’t get distracted by your personal feelings for somebody. If you want to win an argument, state your case and stick to the facts. Diving head-first into opinions, especially these kinds, won’t help you win anything. In fact, you’ll just wind up looking stupider.

3. Respond only to the points the other person is making

“But, but there is TODAY such a pass on the Iphone: Spotify. So where is REALLY the problem for Apple ? But on my Iphone i Can also have Access to more than 6 millions of music, i can download plenty of really good games, i Can read Ebook, i Can use Genius (far better than Smart DJ), I can use a lot of GPS, I can go on the internet with a far better navigator. It isn’t only a music player, it’s a computer in the pocket… And this computer in the pocket is at the same price than your Zune. So, the conclusion is easy…”

The Apple App Store is a smart piece of business. I never denied that. But my argument was about the music. Responding to my post by saying “iPods are better because of the App Store” misses the entire point I was making. I didn’t ignore the App Store. But that wasn’t part of the discussion.

This is also not the only comment to mention Spotify. I won’t argue it: Spotify looks like a fantastic service. But it’s not available in the United States. At all. Period. To be honest, from the people I’ve talked to, it doesn’t look like it will be any time soon, if at all. I mentioned this in a couple of my replies in the comments section, and guess what? More people kept repeating how great Spotify is.

At least this makes me feel cool: I have a good number of international readers!

Anyway, if you’re trying to make a point, make sure it’s relevant to the argument at hand. You should be countering the arguments that were made by the other party. If you don’t, it shows that you are ignoring what they are trying to say. And guess what? They’ll ignore your argument then, too.

4. Have something to say, or keep your mouth shut

"Zune is Dead."

“this is your 3rd zoon you say? lolz. bang the drum and wave that penance.”

You might as well stick your tongue out or shoot spitballs at me in retaliation, because that’s how mature you look when you argue like this. In real life, it’s like repeating what the other person is saying, just in a funny voice. Knock it off.

In conclusion…

There is a way to “agree to disagree”, particularly when you are debating about opinions. I didn’t change anybody’s mind, and nobody changed my mind. In this world, you can exchange ideas and points of view and still be honest and respectful about it. Here are two of my favorite comments that make good points while still being respectful to me:

"First, I am a long time Apple user (1979 – Apple ][+) but I have used most micro OS’s from TRS to Commodore to Apple // to Apple /// to Lisa to Mac (OS1 to 9 & OSX 10.2 to 10.4) to CP/M to MS-DOS to Windows 1, 2, 3, 95 & XP plus some UNIX and Linux (not in order of usage).
.
You think apps are not so important while music is so so important. Your opinion. For me, music is nice, but I don’t go through so much music myself. To each their own, and what turns me on about technology is what the technology can do for me. I use what works, and Apple product most of the time works better for me than what Microsoft product does. I use what works best and I have a pile of Dell’s, have built my own PC boxes and have helped others with theirs. I use a Mac as my personal system for email and web browsing for the safety of not being infected by all the Windows malware out there.
.
I don’t have a cell phone at present, have only an iPod shuffle (1st gen) that I use periodically. Being in Canada, a Zune HD is reportedly not going to be available, and if true, is just not an option. The radio HD part is US only so the rest of the world loses out on access, which limits the appeal and market share of the product, while Apple makes a product that can be used almost anywhere in the world. The iPhone is a world phone, the Touch can be used anywhere, the Nano with the FM radio can be used anywhere, the list goes on for almost all Apple product.
.
So, while the Zune has gotten better from its first incarnation, I don’t hold out much hope for you for its future. MS discontinues products that don’t work out in its global domination drive, sometimes replacing them with a new model that instantly obsoletes the previous models, ala the first Zunes, the original XBox, etc. Apple on the other hand has brought the first iPhones and iPod Touches up to date as much as the hardware will allow with OS updates. Other iPods have been firmware updated to allow for bug fixes and feature enhancements. MS with their Windows CE/Mobile is just not that upgradable and other than a desktop PC, most Microsoft product is ultimately not upgradable and is instantly obsolete when a new version of the product appears.
.
For me for the most part, I like Apple and how they handle their product upgrades and upgradability. Your mileage may vary of course. Good luck with your Zune."

“Actually, Sony makes a rather brilliant MP3 player and even includes an excellent set of noise canceling headphones. that far outmatch both MSFT and APPL. Frankly, even the Zune HD is overloaded with features. Audiophiles want true uncompressed music delivered as purely and as distortion free as possible. I don’t think they need a game or a web browser to go a long with their favorite musician.
But, since most of America’s youth suffer from ADD and have a lousy ear for sound, then overloaded players like the Zune, Archos, and iPod will easily get their business. Nice read though."

Thanks to everybody who commented – I’m glad I hit a nerve! Do you have any tips for debating points with others? Share them in our new and improved comments section!