darkersolstice:

“Imagine you were starting a discussion on your favorite pasta. but not with a particular person, just kind of out in the open so everyone can hear. so you get started discussing your noods and someone breaks in and asks you to define and explain everything about pasta before you can even get to what your favorite is and what you love about it. next thing you know, hours have passed and you’re still trying to explain how eggs become noodles and you’re no closer to your point than you were before. and on top of that, every previous time you’ve tried to discuss why you’re so into spaghetti carbonara, this same person, or someone just like them, stops you every sentence to have you define terms and make clarifications about pasta. you know for a fact that these folks are actually anti-pasta, because they’ve not only said as much, but they’ve argued against pasta plenty of times. after months of this, you stop allowing yourself to be interrupted and immediately the cry goes out “but how am i supposed to learn about pasta and noodles if you won’t teach me?!” you’re not having a conversation, you’re having a series of interruptions designed to waste your time and wear you down.”

— Ben Fegan on why some folks are losing patience for “debate” over time. Not meant as an attack on those not losing patience.