Originally Answered: Why do so many people want to be seen to be right, and make others wrong? It is especially prevalent here on Quora. Disagree with me if you think I’m right.
You are 100% right … there is no doubt that a lot of irrational and reactive debating happens on Quora
I’d say there are 3 main reasons … you’ll have to decide for yourself who fits in which box:
- homeostasis preservation — the human unconscious mind has things it MUST NOT RECOGNIZE to conserve energy and remain stable; people defend their worldview to escape stress and preserve the “known” (familiar)
- ego — many of us have self-esteem issues and we like to win arguments for a boost
- accuracy — some see Quora as an entertainment site. I see it as a place to collate accurate human knowledge and create the best models of reality possible, given the data and evidence available
Dewey Gaedcke’s answer to What are the benefits of seeking therapy?