You win debates for onlookers, you're not meant to change the perspective of the person you're debating, you're meant to make them look like idiots so that any lurkers who quietly agree feel bad and change their viewpoint. The left lost because they weren't willing to do this hard enough.

[–] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world -3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

The on lookers don't care. That's why they are on lookers. The best you might do is prevent someone searching for an ideology blindly adopting some rando's. Honestly, though, if they are letting rando's arguing online form their worldview you are far from actually helping them.

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

They don't care consciously, but subconsciously they'll know and remember the time and idea was defended badly whenever it comes up, especially if their knowledge on it is a blank or close to blank slate.

If you make it entertaining and thus a source of dopamine, and even better yet very consumable - you've got bonafide content and then people start caring, even if it's only for lulz.

They'll associate your views with intelligent witty dunks and the dopamine they bring and have a favourable view of them.

That's both the model of the "Le angry feminazis!" reaction channels of the post-gamergate world and the hbomberguys of the world, especially his earliee stuff.