I’ve seen it firsthand. You could write something raw, something honest, something that actually addresses real issues—and instead of engaging with the message, people will show up just to nitpick, mock, and twist your words. Not because they have something meaningful to add, but because their fragile egos can’t handle anything that challenges their worldview.
Redditors don’t want conversation. They want conflict. They want to flex their vocabulary, throw in a condescending ‘buddy’ or ‘kid,’ and hit ‘reply’ like they just won a grand debate. They don’t care about truth. They don’t care about nuance. They just want to be the loudest voice in the room.
And the saddest part? Most of them don’t even realize they’re stuck in this cycle. They think they’re intellectuals, deep thinkers, masters of logic—when in reality, they’re just running on autopilot, regurgitating the same tired internet arguments over and over again.
They don’t read to understand. They read to respond. They cherry-pick words, ignore context, and twist meaning—not because they’re seeking truth, but because they’re desperate to feel like they “won” something. But what are they actually winning? A pointless internet spat with a stranger? The fleeting satisfaction of an upvote?
This is why real conversation is dead here. People don’t listen. They don’t reflect. They don’t engage with ideas in good faith. They just perform—competing for the illusion of intelligence in a sea of people just like them.
And that’s why so many of them will never evolve. Because real growth requires the humility to say, ‘Maybe I don’t know everything.’ It requires the ability to listen without the immediate urge to counterattack. It requires self-awareness.
But Reddit isn’t built for that. It’s built for addiction, for meaningless arguments, for dopamine hits disguised as discourse. It’s built for people who love the sound of their own opinions more than they love actual wisdom.
So yeah, go ahead. Argue in the comments. Tell me how wrong I am. Try to ‘win.’ That’s what you all do best, isn’t it?
Comments
You know what? I’m going to agree with you just to spite you.
You’re wrong. I’m right.
This is really so true for everything and it’s the biggest problem in the world in my opinion. People don’t like not knowing so they just accept someone else’s idea without thinking. This is such a powerful bias.
Just today I answered a pretty straightforward question someone asked and they commented back trying to argue that I was wrong WHEN THEY ASKED THE QUESTION BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T KNOW THE ANSWER. No one cares about civil conversation anymore, they just like to argue.
I think this is often the case. It varies a lot by the subreddit. Those that are quite specific and technical aren’t so bad, but subteddits like AITAH, AIO and relationship advice are packed to the tits with prejudice, name calling, reckless assumptions and hostility. They can still provide useful perspectives and ideas but boy do you ever need to wear your safety glasses.
There are reasonable people reading. They just don’t reply. Give everyone a megaphone and it’s not the thoughtful people that use it. Jerks dominate conversations even off of Reddit.
Oh, I have definitely seen, and experienced, it firsthand.
That’s everywhere.
I’ve never once went back and replied to any comment I’ve ever made. I’ve never tried to debate or argue with anyone. I say my opinion, and never check to see if it’s agreed with or disagreed with.
I don’t really care how people feel about what I say.
I’ve had loads of lovely conversations on here! Also have had the rare experience of someone changing my mind on something because they knew more about it and gave me the facts I hadn’t known, love that
I also learn new things all the time, like how the American census has white/Arab as an option, what the right amount of chickens is (50), what wrist circumference someone has to have for me to find them attractive (actually didn’t learn that as I immediately forgot), a bunch of things about Justin Trudeau just before, all kinds of things I can’t think of right now
And to silence the opposition.
Is this post in response to people’s reactions to your post about how “everything in the world feels fake,” or in response to people’s reactions to your post about fingering your own butt?
Um ackshually 🤓
Yah, emulating what people think is important in real life
“hey chatGTP, write me a rant about how redditors argue.”
Was I close?
Far too many on Reddit being woke is performative. I doubt they believe half the shit they say, they just know saying it looks good.
And saying this as a woke guy