Case in point:
Me:
Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
The last word is the one that exists after the penultimate one. In this case, the last word would be this one that I'm typing now...So, I guess 'now' would appear to be the last word, unless I stop on a different last word this time. See, that time the last word was 'time', however it's not even the last word because I haven't stopped typing yet. Who knows if I ever will? I seem to be content to continue and contine with little, or no point in sight...Unless, you take this whole post to be a demonstration of how some of our beloved members view a 'victory' of the debating kind. It would appear that redundant banality is the modus operandi of many a ruffled-feathered friend...
Them:
Originally posted by debbiejo, Imperial_Samura, Jedi Priestess
dribble, dribble, dribble...
You:
Originally posted by Hit_and_Miss
problem arises from people not being able to counter a statement, So instead of dealing with the point, They just post.... As just posting can hide the post before you... sooner or later, that award winning point has been lost.The amount of times Points are over looked...
Ah, the irony!
Sir Whirlysplat likes teh controversial thr34ds, doesn't he?
As for 'the last word'.. I see no relevance to it on a discussion forum, I think contributing and clearing stuff up is more satisfying.
Some people treat it as a messageboard anyway where they just leave their opinion without caring about responses.
If someone is in a debate and they aren't doing as good as they'd like to, a common technique is to imply that someone else is trying to have the last word, whilst slyly lacing your post with some relevance that the opponent has every right to reply to. Only to flip it and say "See, can't stop." That's not ego, that's having something to say genuinely. I will stand by the side of anyone who is replying with relevance, against anyone trying that. I don't only speak for myself.
I think this whole "winning" thing is a BS also. It's important to realise though, that in a debate there are sides. If one side is doing better and actually gaining or gained the upper hand, then the other side, logically, is losing. It has nothing to do with WANTING to win. Again I think people just subconsciously don't want to admit that losing in a debate is possible, but simulataneously want to imply that their opponent is trying to win. To believe one is possible means that you must also believe the other is too.
It's a more confusing issue than people give it credit for, but it's also one that many people hypocritically use to their "advantage". Some of the people who use it don't need to, really. Because they're not dumb.
-AC