I feel like I'm addicted to arguing online

[betternever2havbeen]

I just feel like debating stuff is the only thing that gets me fired up. And naturally I'm drawn to opposing opinions on a subject, otherwise it's just agreement-which is boring! Lol. I don't know why I do it as I always regret it and get stressed out and can't sleep sometimes over it. Even though it's just a stupid internet argument.

IDK maybe I'm just someone who loves conflict. Even though afterwards I really don't. I actually hate arguing, and it makes me feel really bad. I'm quite oversensitive so a lot of stuff genuinely hurts, even if it's all online where no one knows me. Whenever I comment to someone on twitter or reddit I know I'll regret it and they'll come back with something horrible but I just can't help myself if I disagree with something.

Like I've really tried to stay away from conflict on here but occasionally it's happened due to my passion for antinatalism. I just don't want to be like this. I just want to be normal and have stable emotions and not argue with people all the time. It's not like they're even going to change their mind about a subject so what's the point? But I find it so addictive. Does this sound like a personality disorder or something? I've taken criticism really badly in the past and been really vicious back (verbally) and it just makes me think I have BPD or something.

Does anyone else feel like this?

 

[Nothing Left]

It sounds as though you gain some sort of catharsis from arguing, even if you claim that it stresses you out.

Like perhaps, if you feel as powerless, or forced into silence, or that you can't speak your mind in your real day to day life, then arguing online with others might be your way of getting that outlet, even if it makes you feel bad afterwards. Or it could be loneliness? Taking out your misery on others?

I know because all of those are reasons that I used to argue online with other people. It's basically just an egotistical thing.

You just have to ask yourself, "Is this worth arguing with someone over? Do I want to waste my time on this? What will I gain from this?"

 

[Nightfoot]

True debate involves specific rules. Anything else is just arguing and no one wins an argument. It is possible to sway opinion with facts but the likelihood decreases when strong emotions are involved.

 

[betternever2havbeen]

It sounds as though you gain some sort of catharsis from arguing, even if you claim that it stresses you out.

Like perhaps, if you feel as powerless, or forced into silence, or that you can't speak your mind in your real day to day life, then arguing online with others might be your way of getting that outlet, even if it makes you feel bad afterwards. Or it could be loneliness? Taking out your misery on others?

I know because all of those are reasons that I used to argue online with other people. It's basically just an egotistical thing.

You just have to ask yourself, "Is this worth arguing with someone over? Do I want to waste my time on this? What will I gain from this?"

Interesting. I don't think I take my misery out on others though. I feel great when I give someone a genuine nice comment. Maybe I crave a debate or difference of opinion more because a nice comment is usually the end of the interaction and arguing takes up more time and there's a lot more to say. You're right about not being able to speak my mind though as I grew up extremely shy and quiet. No one who didn't know me extremely well would think I had an opinion on anything.

I guess I still crave social interaction despite being a loner but at the end of the day it's just making me feel worse. I think I'm quite intense and most people just don't care enough about a subject to argue about it so much. It really sucks not having a middle-ground. Oh I should mention that I have OCD so I guess it's partly an obsessive thing. I don't think I will ever fit in. Even if I was debating with me I think I'd feel the need to tell myself to STFU lol. I can be really insufferable and just go on and on. I think the only way to control it is to just not read social media.

True debate involves specific rules. Anything else is just arguing and no one wins an argument. It is possible to sway opinion with facts but the likelihood decreases when strong emotions are involved.

Very good point. It's often highly charged subjects. I genuinely go into it trying to make the other side understand my POV or where I'm coming from and maybe we can keep it respectful for a bit (which I'm proud of being able to do) but no matter how respectful I try to be it always descends into an argument because we come at it from such different sides.

 

[stellaistired]

I just feel like debating stuff is the only thing that gets me fired up. And naturally I'm drawn to opposing opinions on a subject, otherwise it's just agreement-which is boring! Lol. I don't know why I do it as I always regret it and get stressed out and can't sleep sometimes over it. Even though it's just a stupid internet argument.

IDK maybe I'm just someone who loves conflict. Even though afterwards I really don't. I actually hate arguing, and it makes me feel really bad. I'm quite oversensitive so a lot of stuff genuinely hurts, even if it's all online where no one knows me. Whenever I comment to someone on twitter or reddit I know I'll regret it and they'll come back with something horrible but I just can't help myself if I disagree with something.

Like I've really tried to stay away from conflict on here but occasionally it's happened due to my passion for antinatalism. I just don't want to be like this. I just want to be normal and have stable emotions and not argue with people all the time. It's not like they're even going to change their mind about a subject so what's the point? But I find it so addictive. Does this sound like a personality disorder or something? I've taken criticism really badly in the past and been really vicious back (verbally) and it just makes me think I have BPD or something.

Does anyone else feel like this?

Ragebait is heavily addictive and social media companies know that. The worst of humanity will bare its claws online and the algorithm pushes it to the very front where everyone can see it. The angrier and more outraged a person is, the more likely they are to stay on said website or app, doomscrolling happens, arguments start, corporations get their money's worth, the algorithm continues to put more and more of said outrage in small sudden jolts between normal posts, and so the loop persists. All this while also giving the brain that constant, instant gratification alongside a ton of dopamine so we stay hooked. They purposely design this shit to rewire our brains and get us addicted to anger. I struggle with the same thing, it's like you enter a deep pit, ragebait is intoxicating the further in you go. They know what they are doing.