I think you are correct on a general level, but some conflicts are pure zero-sum waste of resources, and the more nuanced ones maybe are not? Like, if we debate about whether object-oriented programming is better than functional, perhaps as a result both sides get better at writing software. Or at least the observers get better at writing software, regardless of which style they choose.
I agree that there are internet conflicts worth participating in, for sure. This site contains a large number of them!
But the original post was mostly about the value of passively reading certain things vs certain other things for entertainment. (In the first paragraph, I separate out “arguments on classic culture war topics” as an example of the sorts of conflicts that are most likely a waste of resources.)
I think you are correct on a general level, but some conflicts are pure zero-sum waste of resources, and the more nuanced ones maybe are not? Like, if we debate about whether object-oriented programming is better than functional, perhaps as a result both sides get better at writing software. Or at least the observers get better at writing software, regardless of which style they choose.
I agree that there are internet conflicts worth participating in, for sure. This site contains a large number of them!
But the original post was mostly about the value of passively reading certain things vs certain other things for entertainment. (In the first paragraph, I separate out “arguments on classic culture war topics” as an example of the sorts of conflicts that are most likely a waste of resources.)