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30 Times People Thought They Were Making A Statement But Owned Themselves
Winning an argument on the internet is nearly impossible. Except for the time when your opponent digs a hole for themselves completely on their own. Such self-sabotage is not something you see in every comment section but it does happen. And you can find most of them on a Twitter account called Conservative Self-Owns.
It shares screenshots of homophobic, racist, and other hateful or narrow-minded remarks that backfired on their authors, and it has already earned 269.2K followers by doing so. Scroll down and check out some of Conservative Self-Owns' most popular tweets!
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We managed to get in contact with the person running the account and they agreed to have a little chat about what goes into the process. However, they also wanted to remain anonymous, so for the purpose of this article, let's call them Admin.
"I started the account back in November when I saw a pattern of mainly conservatives on social media making self-defeating arguments," Admin told Bored Panda.
So the majority of Texas legislators feel that forcing a woman to carry an unwanted baby to term, thus resulting in an unloved, neglected child who will suffer from the known effects of those circumstances throughout his/her life is a better choice? And no provisions will be made to step in and provide emotional and financial support to the unwilling mother? Gotta say, not feeling it.
Such a huge following isn't just a testament to their work.
"I mainly pick content through submissions people DM me," Admin explained. But they haven't lost their touch, either. "I also sometimes see stuff in the wild on apps like TikTok."
Admin said by far the most popular themes on Conservative Self-Owns are pronoun-related, like "I'd never date a girl with pronouns." Recently, things related to COVID deniers getting COVID after funny statements on social media have been doing well too.
Considering how the last presidential election went down, political division in America seems to be growing. But according to licensed psychologist Dr. Mike Brooks, we must remember that it's not the worst it's ever been. After all, the country did have a Civil War.
However, it's not just the government that's heating up. Arguments are dividing workplaces, neighborhoods, faith communities, and homes. But as we can see from Conservative Self-Owns, some of the most toxic disagreements take place online.
Did anyone realize that when Donald Trump signed the terms of his agreement not to run a charity again, that he had given $500,000 away to voters at a rally? I didn't realize that until I read the paperwork the other day. And we already know he paid all the actors cheering for him as he came down the escalator.
I'm afraid this person is probably right...not in the way he/she expects.
"I know I've gotten into some of these arguments, despite my best intentions not to," Dr. Mike Brooks wrote in Psychology Today.
"I'm sure you have too ... [The reason] might not even be about politics or religion. It might be about who does the most housework or who the greatest football quarterback of all time is. Regardless of the topic, when we get into an argument, we are usually 'in it to win it.'"
This is the reason the American flag has embarrassed me many times over the last 6 years. Morons like this standing in front of it spewing hate or just being stupid.
But what does winning an argument even mean? "Typically, we want to convince the other person that we are right, and they are wrong," Dr. Brooks explained. "They want to do the same. Reflect upon your own history of arguments for just a moment. Have you ever won one? What percentage of them end up being a waste of time?"
"Have you ever argued with anyone about something of importance and convinced them to change their views? About abortion? Gun safety? Global climate change? That Trump is bad/good for America? That Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (or not)? That you do, in fact, way more housework than your partner? How about we flip the question. Has anyone ever convinced you, through arguing, to change your views?"
If it's a choice, please prove it and choose to be gay instead. We'll wait. You can choose to switch back later.
Dr. Brooks said that convincing others that we are right, and they are wrong almost never happens. "As much as we'd like to think we are rational, objective creatures, we often fall short of that aspiration. We have many cognitive biases that keep us believing that we are right and others are wrong."
"If you are familiar with the Simon & Garfunkel song, The Boxer, there's a great line that's relevant: 'All lies and jests, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.' Simon and Garfunkel are describing what is, in effect, known as confirmation bias. That is, we cherry-pick our information to support what we already believe and 'disregard the rest.'"
This cuts off that this was tweeted by the QAnon Congresswoman from Colorado, Lauren Boebert - who is just so, so stupid. Just a powerfully stupid person.
Dr. Brooks reminded that much of our happiness in life is nested within our relationships. How we relate to other people is a huge deal. "We should take great care in choosing whether to argue with someone," he said. "We must make an effort to be 'effective' in life over being 'right.' After all, if we damage the relationship by arguing, our happiness and their happiness is diminished."
Of course, you probably don't care what a stranger on the internet thinks about you. Plus, we shouldn't be a doormat — it is important to have values, ideas, opinions, and stances. But since arguing seldom produces the desired result, we should be cautious about when to engage.
"If you remember the movie WarGames with Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, you might remember the tagline, 'The only winning move is not to play.' When it comes to winning an argument, the best winning move is to not get in one to begin with," Dr. Brooks said. "Like the nukes in WarGames that destroy both the USA and the USSR, our arguments usually cause more harm than good."
These people vote. These people get a say in who sets the laws that affect your lives. Now, I'm not saying it's wrong that they vote. But they vote based on opinions instead of facts. Here's an opinion: humanity, if this is representative, is screwed. These are the worst examples of what evolution has done. Here's a fact: evidence suggests we share DNA with them. But since we also share DNA with a banana, use this information as you will. I'm off to eat an unhealthy amount of chocolate until I feel better.
Terrifying isn't it? I live in Missouri so I'm right here in the thick of it. And I can tell you, there is never enough chocolate.
Load More Replies...I hear you Lauren. Time for one of those heartwarming posts to lift the spirits a bit.
Load More Replies...I'm a literal child, and even i facepalmed. I can't get over the fact that these are adults. With like fully developed brains. Who apparently should be more apt than me at critical thinking. I'm afraid lmao
This whole article feels like it's highlighting how Dan from Night Court would fare in the modern world.
I DID have my opinion changed by an argument: Sad to say, I emotionally supported the Vietnam War until another student had a shouting match with me about it. I wasn't convinced immediately, but when I went looking for counter-arguments, I found out that he was right. It can happen.
But you went looking for counter-arguments. Which means you were open to seeing a different point of view. That automatically makes you smarter than any of these... individuals. There are only two ways you can change an opinion with an argument (or with reasoned discussion). 1) If you don't really care about the topic at hand. I think cats are better than dogs. But since I'm allergic to both and can have neither, if you want to shout at me that dogs are better than cats, I'll take your word for it, since I will never have either for a pet. 2) If you are OPEN to having your opinion changed. I am about 75% sure that Blackpool is a crappy place to go on holiday, but that remaining 25% means that if someone gave me reasoned explanations of a tourist family experience, I could change my mind. (I struggled to find non-political examples here!)
Load More Replies...A lot of these folks are "self-awarewolves". Once in a blue moon, they turn into self-aware creatures... almost.
The title thumbnail for this is misleading. This is all vax jokes. There are still other humorous anecdotes in existence, yes? I miss laughing without also getting angry.
This is my favorite one. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chuck-woolery-son-covid-19/ Note the dates of the tweets
People like this exist in every country. Self hate won't solve anything or make you look better than the rest of the Americans you look down on. Education will change people. It'll be slow but it'll happen.
Load More Replies...Agreed in what you say, but people with blue hair screeching about their pet projects, telling other people what they should do, are not liberals, no matter what they call themselves. The problem we have is the tolerance paradox. Most people support well controlled free-market economics, social liberalism, and democracy, but they also think racism, homophobia, religious intolerance or puritanism of whatever creed, should be restricted. How do we maintain a liberal standpoint while not allowing unrestrained prejudice? We must forbid certain things in order to maintain a free society. At what point does that stop us being a free society? Society has not found an answer.
Load More Replies...Prior to COVID, I would have agreed with you. Now, these people's brand of stupid is the reason my high-risk 5 year old can't go to school or have a normal life. I hate them as much as any mother would hate the people who are harming her child.
Load More Replies..."Most were just conservatives being conservative" I think your comment belongs up there.
Load More Replies...These people vote. These people get a say in who sets the laws that affect your lives. Now, I'm not saying it's wrong that they vote. But they vote based on opinions instead of facts. Here's an opinion: humanity, if this is representative, is screwed. These are the worst examples of what evolution has done. Here's a fact: evidence suggests we share DNA with them. But since we also share DNA with a banana, use this information as you will. I'm off to eat an unhealthy amount of chocolate until I feel better.
Terrifying isn't it? I live in Missouri so I'm right here in the thick of it. And I can tell you, there is never enough chocolate.
Load More Replies...I hear you Lauren. Time for one of those heartwarming posts to lift the spirits a bit.
Load More Replies...I'm a literal child, and even i facepalmed. I can't get over the fact that these are adults. With like fully developed brains. Who apparently should be more apt than me at critical thinking. I'm afraid lmao
This whole article feels like it's highlighting how Dan from Night Court would fare in the modern world.
I DID have my opinion changed by an argument: Sad to say, I emotionally supported the Vietnam War until another student had a shouting match with me about it. I wasn't convinced immediately, but when I went looking for counter-arguments, I found out that he was right. It can happen.
But you went looking for counter-arguments. Which means you were open to seeing a different point of view. That automatically makes you smarter than any of these... individuals. There are only two ways you can change an opinion with an argument (or with reasoned discussion). 1) If you don't really care about the topic at hand. I think cats are better than dogs. But since I'm allergic to both and can have neither, if you want to shout at me that dogs are better than cats, I'll take your word for it, since I will never have either for a pet. 2) If you are OPEN to having your opinion changed. I am about 75% sure that Blackpool is a crappy place to go on holiday, but that remaining 25% means that if someone gave me reasoned explanations of a tourist family experience, I could change my mind. (I struggled to find non-political examples here!)
Load More Replies...A lot of these folks are "self-awarewolves". Once in a blue moon, they turn into self-aware creatures... almost.
The title thumbnail for this is misleading. This is all vax jokes. There are still other humorous anecdotes in existence, yes? I miss laughing without also getting angry.
This is my favorite one. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chuck-woolery-son-covid-19/ Note the dates of the tweets
People like this exist in every country. Self hate won't solve anything or make you look better than the rest of the Americans you look down on. Education will change people. It'll be slow but it'll happen.
Load More Replies...Agreed in what you say, but people with blue hair screeching about their pet projects, telling other people what they should do, are not liberals, no matter what they call themselves. The problem we have is the tolerance paradox. Most people support well controlled free-market economics, social liberalism, and democracy, but they also think racism, homophobia, religious intolerance or puritanism of whatever creed, should be restricted. How do we maintain a liberal standpoint while not allowing unrestrained prejudice? We must forbid certain things in order to maintain a free society. At what point does that stop us being a free society? Society has not found an answer.
Load More Replies...Prior to COVID, I would have agreed with you. Now, these people's brand of stupid is the reason my high-risk 5 year old can't go to school or have a normal life. I hate them as much as any mother would hate the people who are harming her child.
Load More Replies..."Most were just conservatives being conservative" I think your comment belongs up there.
Load More Replies...