The Art of Quarreling: First-Rate, Second-Rate, Third-Rate, or Merchandise

These past few days — no, actually, over the past two or three years — we can see quarrels of all sizes raging in the real world and on the virtual internet at any time. Whatever the purpose of these quarrels — political correctness, opening up ractopamine pork, scooter rights, or grabbing government resources (such as the fat sheep that is Taiwan Power Company) — these online battles of pride are often utterly meaningless[2].

But even if you’ve never seen a pig walk, you’ve eaten pork (though after the government opens up ractopamine pork, some people may truly never have). I have sorted the art of quarreling into 3+1 types, including:

One: quarreling in order to compromise on a conclusion — first-rate.

Only with a conclusion can everyone act in unison; only with give and take can a guiding policy best suited to the time and circumstances emerge. This kind of quarrel is the most efficient problem-solving approach.

Two: quarreling without yielding on each side’s position — second-rate.

Arguing out of firm belief in one’s own righteousness keeps society’s standards at a high level. Although people quarrel, they also help each other keep improving. It takes a bit more time, but competition produces more sparks.

Three: quarreling in order to create chaos — third-rate.

This is the type of quarreling in Taiwanese society today: having lost self-pursuit, thinking only of dragging the opponent (enemy) down, killing and hating each other, fixating on petty personal gain, and sinking into an endless vortex that easily accelerates into decline after a single incident. Losers find it harder to recover, but winners also overinflate and destroy themselves.

Three-plus-one: quarreling in order to generate internet traffic and build oneself up — that is merchandise.

Merchandise can make money! After that, the only question left is who is the villain and who is the fool.

I have always found noisy quarrels, debates, and flame wars meaningless — a waste of our beautiful time in life. That is why I rarely initiate remarks that provoke quarrels; mostly I just pass by and watch the fun (with hot tea). If next time you find my wording overly sharp and biting, first look at whom I am replying to. I will certainly respond using the other person’s grammar and thought structure, with the educational psychology of letting them feel the same way (escape).

Further Reading

1. The Brand of Fake News: The Means of Disrupting the Spread of Information Truth
2. Written Polemics, Online Debates, and Flame Wars Are a Luxurious Waste of Life and Time