Life is Finite, Don't Argue with Idiots
I used to argue and debate incessantly, always believing that every debate was a way to further communicate with the other party. Perhaps, through a little progress each time, truth would eventually prevail.
In my forties, I realized, first, that I don't actually possess the truth, and second, that Confucianism's insistence on sacrificing what's known to be unattainable is not courage, but stupidity.
What about life, especially one's own? It seems more important than the affairs of others. It's worthwhile to study specialized subjects well, deeply, and thoroughly, even small pleasures in life, and the meaning of life isn't found in experiencing these beauties.
Therefore, I established a rule for a beautiful life experience: don't argue with fools.
Arguing with fools doesn't win us anything.
Debates always have standards and bottom lines, but fools generally don't have any. In one group, someone constantly promoted the idea that Western medicine is expensive and Chinese medicine is the best. I asked a simple question: isn't Chinese medicine cheaper? Because I often see news reports about reducing medical costs. He immediately attacked me. I don't argue with such fools; I immediately left the group. Because I don't know his standards for 'expensive' and 'cheap,' and I don't know his background—perhaps he gets full coverage from the state or takes advantage of certain discounts. However, I immediately set a warning line if someone jumps from a specific or local event to a conclusion that one country is definitively better than another.
How do we share beautiful things or our stances with others? I think the worst way to communicate is through debate. In the digital age, simply expressing objective and profound truths is preferable to arguing; as long as the message is meaningful, someone will eventually accept it.
