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Is putting on a 'dumb voice' when quoting someone you disagree with actually a form of poisoning the well?

And does this unfairly paint them as less agreeable than they would be if you presented what they said with a normal voice?

25 comments
  • TIL doing a pattern of capital and lowercase letters means you're doing a dumb voice. Didn't know that until looking at the replies, now I feel like I have a lot of stuff to change on my countless profiles.

    To answer the question, I don't think so. I don't use the dumb voice just for people who disagree with me, it would have to actually be dumb, like the teacher who thought special ed gym class was better for me because that's where people go who aren't social enough with their classmates (and then you get to the class and wonder what the logic is because you solved a people problem by subtracting the people).

  • Context is always important. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and doing this is a good way to express your opinion about someone else's opinion. Just remember, it's easy to sound like an insufferable twat when done poorly.

  • Emotion is involved when that happens.

    Happens to the best of us, not a good look for civil discourse.

    • To be fair, if emotion isn't involved, that's basically just a sign of indifference. You owe it to yourself and your "opponent" to actually care about whatever it is you're discussing. What truly matters is understanding and prioritizing the why behind your feelings and honoring that, regardless of whatever random impulse those feelings are currently bringing about.

25 comments