The late comedian George Carlin made a good living on his famous “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” monologue. In the monologue, he details seven particular words that one could never use on television (or radio either) regardless of intent or context. Use of any of those seven words would (and will) get you bleeped out. Use of enough of them at one sitting and the FCC (in America) will have you up on fines or worse.
Well, Mr. Carlin’s seven dirty words won’t usually cause an eye blink on the Internet; however, some topics are tacitly taboo regardless of the site one is surfing or the point one is trying to make. The introduction of any of these verboten topics into a comment stream, blog post, or general web discussion will invariably result in the immediate cessation of whatever was being discussed and the explosion of a full fledged flame war. These particular topics are so incendiary because they have little or no perceivable middle ground. One must chose a side and any refusal to chose a side will usually result in taking fire from BOTH sides.
Pretty much all of these topics have been around for years, but none of them show the slightest sign of becoming any less inflammatory. If anything, the rapidity of communication available via the web has polarized these issues even more. They are all grenades and a wise man once said, “when the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend.” So, without further ado and with apologies to the late Mr. Carlin, Ten Topics You Cannot Discuss on the Internet (without serious drama following shortly thereafter).
Everyone has an opinion about the Middle East. It may be about the Palestinian State; it may be about oil; it may be about Israel; but that little area of land is blood-soaked for a reason. Trying to talk about the Middle East will almost always end up in a fight because no one has been able to come up with a win-win solution to the area’s problems in a few thousand years. Any solution requires one side or the other to give ground and so far, no one has decided to. This mentality carries over into the supporters of the different positions. Israel is evil. The Palestinians are evil. The Jews are evil. The Arabs are evil. Round and round it goes. Again, no middle ground.
Can’t be discussed rationally. No way, no how. To some it’s a perfectly acceptable lifestyle. To others, it is anathema. It is genetic. It is a choice. It can be “cured”. Once a homosexual, always a homosexual. Nature – or nurture. What’s really upsetting is no middle ground is usually available. If one happens to be a live and let live type of person, he or she is still in some danger of being painted negatively by the other side. One thing that makes this particular topic so explosive is homosexuality is much more mainstream now than it used to be. To some, that is a positive and sought after development. For others, it is a sign that the apocalypse is at hand.
Arguably the most discussed man in all of history. His life traditionally splits the dating system of the Western World into BC and AD. He is also probably the single most divisive person in all history. He was a good man and a great teacher but nothing else. He was God in the flesh. He never existed. Strangely, many people of all stripes who can rationally and calmly discuss the existence of God devolve into name calling and mudslinging once Jesus is brought up. Jesus is another guaranteed firestorm starter.
“Can’t we all just get along?” isn’t really an option. Things are better than in the past in some instances, but in others, not so much. Regardless, trying to talk about it reasonably is nearly impossible. Moderate voices are usually shouted down. Even in the 21st century some people still believe in the superiority of one race over another, despite the fact that, organically, race is a myth. We have ethnicities, yes, but race is an artificial construct based almost solely on the amount of melanin in a person’s skin and the size and layout of the facial bones and musculature. We’ve come a long way, but a long way remains and to discuss it reasonably is difficult. Cries of discrimination start coming in from all sides and before anyone knows it, the “discussion” is in the crapper.
Pro-Choice. Pro-Life. Anti-choice. Baby. Fetus. When does birth begin? I have read more than once that civil debate on abortion is difficult in person and absolutely impossible online. The reasons are plain. It’s a topic that is naturally polarizing. It pits men against women, one religion against another, freedom against bondage, and for some it is literally a matter of life and death. The most divisive facet of the abortion debate, however, is the tendency for both sides to apply black and white thinking to a subject with way too many gray questions to fit into those pigeonholes. The result in “real life” can be crazy mad protests all the way up to clinic bombings. Online isn’t much better as otherwise nice, civil, rational people go from zero to pissed off in less than a second. Too visceral. Avoid at all costs.
This is mostly an issue for Americans and there is a certain amount of politics involved, but even those who live in countries with very strict gun control, or no gun control (and little concern about it) are sure to weigh in on this controversial topic. It is, of course, all the more controversial for Americans because it goes to the very core of the nation – the constitution and the right (or not) to bear arms. We have already had at least one incident of comment war over this topic.
The Holocaust is ALWAYS a fire starter. It never happened. It happened but the numbers are inflated. It happened but why is it so important. The Holocaust is about the Jews. The Holocaust is about all the targeted populations of the Nazis. The Holocaust didn’t get the job done. One reason this topic is so toxic is enough people are around who were eyewitnesses to make a strong case one way, but enough people are around who must rely on second hand information to be subject to influence by deniers. Either way, almost NOTHING elicits the strong feelings that the Holocaust does, and if one makes the mistake of saying one doesn’t care either way, well, god help you.
Of all the topics on this list, politics is the one that seems to have shown the most recent increase in rancor (though not on Listverse – item 6 takes the cake there). In the US we have the Republicans and Democrats, and in many other countries (such as the UK and most of the Commonwealth there is a similar variation of partisan political parties. For the diehard political pundit, his party is his team. It’s his family. It’s a mountain he’s ready to die on. I’ve seen people get physically sick upon learning “their” candidate had lost an election. The saddest part of this polarization is the gridlock it creates in governments. After all, the politicians know about the splits and they’ll pull out all the stops to add to their camp so they can stay in office.
Evolution or Creation? The books that have been written on this subject for either position could probably fill a modest library. Each side has reams of data and boatloads of facts to back up its position and each side roundly thinks the other side’s data and facts are so much excrement. The worst part is, again, no middle ground. If one tries to adopt a position that incorporates both sides, each side will rip him or her to shreds. When the origins of man come up, the gloves come off.
More people have died in the name of God, whatever name that may be, than pretty much all other causes combined. Christian. Muslim. Buddhist. Atheist. Scientologist. No matter the stripe, a surefire way to get EVERYONE mad is to disparage another’s religion or lack thereof. It’s simple, really. Religion or, spirituality if you will, is probably the most intensely personal part of anyone’s being and that includes those who reject religion and spirituality altogether. Also, religion is a family affair. When someone feels his religion is under attack, that attack immediately becomes personal and familial. One push leads to a counter push and the atomic explosion goes off. To make matters worse, some religions have as an integral part a command to proselytize. Also, some people, not from a sense of command, but of desire, will want to proselytize. When that happens, your intensely personal experience collides with another person’s intensely personal experience and the result is a perfect storm of firestorm.
So, there it is. The ten topics you cannot discuss online (without serious drama following shortly thereafter). A word for the wise: it might pay to discuss the reasons behind this inability to discuss certain topics without a war, rather than discussing the merits of the items mentioned specifically. Let’s keep this more civil than the last list that mentioned one of the topics here.
How boring would life be if we all agreed on everything?
@tremblingfingers (15): i know, can’t say
Excellent list…funny thing is that in my group of friends this is waht you are not allowed to talk about after 3 beers!LOL
The internet is the perfect place for all of these topics because of the anonymity afforded to you by the internet! Its easier to speak whats truely on your mind when you dont have your audience directly in front of you.
I think this list should be renamed.
10 things you never want to discuss on your Facebook/Myspace/etc page.
Quickest way to thin out your friends list.
@JohnnyT(114): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory#Scientific_laws
Please don’t undermine your point with an uneducated bias.
i saw someone above state their opinions on each topic and i thought it would be fun to share mine as well because i disagreed with that person quite a bit!
#10: I dont believe i have a full enough education on the Middle East to have a definitive stance on it, ive formed an opinion based on what i know, but i dont think its appropriate to share it without more knowledge.
#9: To consider LGBT’s anything less that completely equal to you, is like being a racist in the south, in the 1960s and prior. To tell them they cant be “married” but can have “civil union” is the same as telling the blacks they can have a water fountain, just not the same one the whites use.
#8: Jesus most likely existed in some form or another, and seemed to have tried to teach good. Nothing wrong with him, hes just been hijacked.
#7: Youre a heretic if you still have race issues.
#6: While i dont know what would have to happen for me to actually be a part of an abortion… i do not think a law should govern a womans body and choices.
#5: This only exists because in 1776, it was relevant…in 2009 it is not. Its quite simple… look at the murder rates in the US.
#4: I believe the facts COULD be fudged a bit, but i dont think i will ever know for sure. If it all happened exactly as were told it did, then yes, this is the most heinous thing imaginable, however, “winner’s history” is absolutely real, so i cant exactly call someone a “neo nazi” for questioning it.
#3: I’m very Independent. Partisanship is terrible and i think most agree.
#2: This one is only touchy because many people refuse to be educated. Evolution exists, its how it all started to begin with that still has science scratching its head.
#1: I do not believe organized religions are healthy.
Can’t we delete some nonesense comments here, Let maintain these site sensible.
The only really discussion about religion is how to convince delusional people that it’s all stories but using only facts, evidence and common sense. For some reason its difficult. Hey, or maybe why hasn’t the word religion hasn’t been officially chnaged to ‘farce’ or ‘scam’
ironically,
you can’t talk about china in china (or north korea and other communism countries)
nice job though, i don’t get why people dislike this list
Never discuss a “Top 10 Things You Should Never Discuss Online” list online
firestorm starter ^10
DO NOT START A DISCUSSION ON THIS,
(that’s why i’m not posting a reason for my choices)
10: I think that people in the middle east are good, they just live in less developed / poorly governed countries
9: I disagree with homo*****uality
8: Im a christian…
7: I want racial harmony
6: I discourage abortion
5: I disagree with being allowed to have guns
4: The holocaust is bad in whatever way
3: I’m not quite sure what the choices are because i don’t live in america… i just like democracy (not necessarily the democratic party)
2: I support creation
1: I think that people should have the right to believe in what they want to believe in. just don’t use that as an excuse to hurt others
(PS: notice that all my choices starts with “I”)
edit on number 4: I think the holocaust is bad in whatever way
@Tom (121): Tom, the comment you just made is why people hate Americans. You’re coming across like we are the saviors of Earth, and we really are not… we got lucky that our country was not connected to the same continent that the majority of WW2 was being fought on, and that is the main reason we came out of the conflict as the richest. Our time will come (and likely soon thanks to China) where we will no longer be the top dog, so while he was not right for what he said, you are equally not right for how you think you deserve some kind of “thanks”.
I just remembered that on top of some commenters adding Star Trek/Star Wars as a no-no topic….how about Ninjas vs Pirates? (We all know vikings will kick both their butts, but we don’t need to go there.)
Thanks for the list; I’m going to use it to start some conversations during Thanksgiving dinner!
I think I might add a few more though: Capital punishment, juvenile justice (at what age and for what crimes should juveniles be treated as adults, abstinence only education, and (strangely) hunting.
Actually hunting is one which seems to become an issue for argument on the internet but not so much in person. I think one side tends to view a bunch of rich toffs slaughtering farm raised animals and then just leaving someone else to clean up while they go off to get drunk and feel manly. The other side is referring to people who are killing part of an overpopulation of animals who would likely starve to death in the winter anyway, and filling their freezer full of meat to feed their families.
@Rufus (130): totally not asking this to fight with you, but what do you mean by “disagree with homo*****uality”? i am very curious by your wording…
@Adam: umm… (english is not my native language) … perhaps go against would be better?
@Rufus (130):
Unlike ‘Adam’ i am looking to have a fight with you. Most of what you said was rubbish, and you are an idiotic religious zealot.
you can put out your points
i feel perfectly fine to be the so called “idiotic religious zealot”
It seems like the USA is right up there with the Middle East in terms of controversy. One side says we’re the absolute worst country ever and we have absolutely no redeeming qualities. The other side portrays us as the absolute moral authority that has single-handedly saved the world on more than one occasion. All of the sane individuals that believe the country is different, but not better or worse than other countries end up being ignored or being attacked for being apologists/pinko commies.
As to why these topics bring up such vitriol, I think it’s because most of these topics are bi-polar. There’s only two choices and the one that isn’t yours is wrong. Also, subjects like abortion, the Middle East, the Holocaust, and others are usually considered life or death. If someone denies the Holocaust they must be wanting to start it up again. If someone supports Israel they want to see Palestinians eradicated. Another big reason is attention. If I say that Israel and Palestine both have a right to peaceful co-existence I’m not going to get near as much of a response as if I call for the destruction of one or the other. Maybe one way to temper the conversation would be to ignore inflammatory posts and overwhelm them with discussions of more rational posts. What do you guys think?
@Rufus (138): i did just notice now that you blamed the problems in the Middle East on the area being “poorly governed and underdeveloped”… Those problems have existed since times when the Middle East was the center of the planet… where the hell do people get taught these things?! :::faceplant:::
@Eclecticpoet (139): i think youre right, but good luck finding people with strong enough educations to actually discuss these things rationally with you… (see: Rufus)
I’m pretty sure the internet doesn’t really exist . . .
Wow!
If people were just sane and wise, these things wouldn’t be so controversial!
Respect people…
A few of the things that are left to discuss once all controversial topics are eliminated:
- The weather, specifically the weather yesterday. No mention of global trends should be mentioned.
- Non-religiously inspired facial hair.
- Pizza, but with no mention of meat or Halal and Kosher versions of said pizza. In fact, scratch pizza from this list because some people are lactose intolerant and pizza is not pizza without cheese.
- The manufacturing of ceramics in early nineteenth century England, but without mentioning the topics of labour and/or cultural appropriation.
- Hats that do not have sports logos, animal products such as feathers, or religious significance.
- The benefits and disadvantages in the use of mechanical cataloguing in archives. As long as people agree not to argue over perceived inadequacies of the grammatical cataloguing of archives, because that can get a little heated.
- Generic writing implements.
@archangel (143):
Nice work Sherlock.
w000000. It would seem lefty will remain safe. Thank you guys.
”Top 10 Things You Should Never Discuss Online” Wrong title.
It should be;
”Top 10 Things You Should Never Discuss Offline”
You can discuss anything Out Of Line, Online!
That’s the Core of Internet politics.
For those who say that ”Democracy works in theory but fails in practice” ( I agree on that),
it should be;
”Democracy works in theory/Online but fails in offline practice”
So the bottom line is = YOU FAIL!
This list ( however good the intend to make it ) does not state 10 different items:
10
The Middle East, this is about religion.
9
Homo*****uality, Bible says is a no-no, so this is about religion.
8
Jesus Christ, nuff said.
7
Race Relations
6
Abortion, again, bible says no, so this is about religion.
5
Gun Control
4
Race relations
3
Politics
2
Origins of Man, bible claims it, so this is about religion.
1
Religion……….
I only count 4 items and 6 more only about religious hangups.
What would our world be so much better off without religion.
@Adam (140): :::faceplant:::
You’re doing it wronf
Is there really an argument with gun control? I mean pro gun control advocates rely on emotion and fallacious arguments.
..Oh and btw Im proud to be a homo, and i love riding a huge penis. i dont care what you think.
@L (149): w-r-o-n-g…youre doing that wrong.
@Frenkie (148):
#6 is not just religion…its also a human rights issue, and a women’s rights issue…which is probably why that one is so loaded.
@ Getaclue 104
“Most of us still live in the house we constructed as children, and instead of making necessary repairs or wholesale rebuilding we just keep piling on the cards.”
I don’t think I’ve ever heard it stated better. I will say that attempting the rebuilding will often hurt like Hell.
@SKIN (150): pro-gun people arent so much fighting for the acutal ability to have a gun in their hand as much as they are fighting to preserve the constitution as the american forefathers wrote it. i believe that they fear if it is changed, it will create a domino effect and many other parts will be changed as well.
Great list and timing!
Just remember even if you don’t believe in God he believes in you!
@SKIN (150): its similar to pro-choice people… they arent arguing that we should be killing babies and handing out abortions, they just want to ensure that a woman CAN choose to do what she wants with her body.
All right, let’s clear this up. Jesus DID exist. There is no question about that. The argument is if he was God’s son or simply a man teaching people how to live good lives.
@ 147 : You Nailed it dude!!
10 Tell Middle East they have had as much time ( actually More) to get their ***** together as any other country and they have 50 more years to fix their stuff on their own. If they havent sell their land to the highest bidder ( probably China) and they will fix it no doubt. oh and give the money to feed children or save polar bears or whatever.
9. I am not gay so I dont care if they can marry or not, just like I dont expect them to care if I can. and on a side note please stop comparing them to the civil rights movement it is not the same thing. But if you must compare it to civil rights at least be fare and say African Americans fix the problem for themselvs and made themselvs be treated farily, so Homo*****uals should do the same, in a sense man up and do something instead of crying.
8. Maybe he was real Maybe not, but the world would without a doubt be better if everyone followed the 10 comandments. whomever came up with them put aside.
7. If you are racist you should be shot in the face. On either side of any fence imaginable. Shot in the face
6 Abortion, personally think to may people use it for a way out which I dont like, but not sure how to stop them without stoping rape, and Medical reasons witch I am fine with. It would be like saying no jury trials because most of the people are guilty you are only saving 1 or 2 whom arent. Personally I am fine with saving that 1 or 2
5 Gun Control, lets not forget that this is the 2nd thing out forefathers thought to put in writing, so that might give a hint to its important, and if they can get rid of this admendment they can then get rid of the rest in a blink of an eye.
4. Stop debating on the numbers being inflated!! people were cooked in freaking ovens. So the difference in some peoples mind is 999 people cooked no big deal, 1000 people cooked HOLY ***** NOW WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION. agian idiots. Have respect for those that fell, have pride in a world that killed the bastards that did it.
3 Politics suck, Protect me from invasion and deliver my damn mail everything else just keep your nose out of. all crooks
2. We will never 100% know, there are good points on both sides, personally everything just clicking together by chance is a little much for me.
1. Relegion, please see number 8. but I am fine with relegions even if they start arguments because respectful but passionate fighting for something is good. Now killing people fore a relegion is bad and people who do that should be well refer to number 7
Oh yeah forgot to mention this fact too…Guns don’t kill people, people kill people!
HORRIBLE FAIL OF A LIST
@MommaDuck (156): How do you know this?
@150 Skin
“Is there really an argument with gun control? ”
It’s not as wild and woolly everywhere, but here in the American South, it’s pretty intense. Right now, you can’t buy ammunition or certain guns because people around here are so scared of President Obama that they are buying those calibers of ammo and gun by the CASELOAD as soon as they are delivered on the trucks to the larger sporting goods stores or the local Wally-World.
@troll (162): Trolls aren’t appreciated on this site, troll. And this isn’t a ‘horrible fail of a list’ at all.
@Dervis_khan (160): you just posted the stupidest comment i have ever seen on this site.
God made a mistake when he created gay people. They should try to hide their unfortunate affliction the best they can. We don’t want to corrupt the children.
@ Adam (166)…were you referring to the whole thing or a certain part?
@The Righteous one (167): Wait…isn’t he supposed to be infallible or something like that? If so…no mistake. Nice try.
@Adam (166): Obviously you haven’t been on Listverse for long, Adam.
@Trojan_man (168):
the whole thing. i read the first part and got ready to reply, but then kept reading and realized that i wasnt dealing with ignorance, i was dealing with a fool.
@Adam (166): I don’t see what was so bad about his comments. I thought they were fine. What part?
@Davy (170): only started reading the comments 3 weeks ago! haha. does it get worse than this??
@Adam (171)
Thank God (or god, goodness, heavens…I don’t want to start a fight because of a capitalization or wording error) that we have people like Dervis. It makes the day go by so quick. And it gives Randall ammunition.
I would add the following as honorable mentions:
Death penalty
Euthanasia
Animal testing
Global warming
Sports
Movies/music
@MommaDuck(161)
I think that guns help…if you stood there and yelled “BANG!” you wouldn’t kill many people…:)
@Adam (173): Oh, there are unbelievably stupid comments on this site. I have been here for a little over two years and I have seen some pretty incredible stuff.
“the last list that mentioned one of the topics here.”
What list was that?
And what item was it?
Bearglove (24), you obviously know nothing. Don’t let the internet door hit you on the way out.
George Carlin’s seven dirty words was the epitome of sarcasm, and he fought like hell against censorship. So, I can only assume that you are being ironic here?
Given that after only a few hours the comments are already upto 180 clearly all of these topics should be and are discussed online, a self defeating list!
None the less thank you for it.