Debates 4 Lyfe

I went to a party last night and got sucked into a conversation with this guy I really didn't want to talk to - he seemed okay at first (worked on the hill, had an interesting background, was from the Midwest...I love people from the Midwest).  But then he started doing this weird conversational tick that some people do, that I have never understood.  He started bashing everything I said.


I told him I lived in Southwest.  He said it was a shitty neighborhood that would maybe be cool in 10 years.


I told him I worked on the Hill for a while, too.  He said the Senate side was a waste of time and nothing ever got done.


I told him I wasn't really into sports (even though this is isn't strictly true anymore...).  He said people who don't like sports are just pretentious.


I told him I loved watching the Republican debates.  He said I was wasting my time and that I probably didn't have any friends.


That was the last straw.


So two things on this exchange:


1) Why do people think it's funny to act this way in a conversation?  It's maybe funny to take the contrarian, combative point-of-view for a couple issues, but it gets old really, really fast.  And at some point...I do actually like all of those things, so if you really feel that way about all of them, then maybe we should just stop talking.


2) I LOVE DEBATES.  His argument was that it was a waste of time because you could learn everything you needed to know by watching the coverage afterward.  But why do people watch sporting events live?  Because it's just more exciting that way.  Yes, I know the clip of Newt yelling at John King is going to be played over and over again on every news network until the next debate.  But I want to see it when it happens!  Like that amazing football catch that will be on every highlight reel from now until the superbowl.  You can see it on ESPN, sure.  But it's so much better to see it happen right in front of your eyes.  Also, I want to form my opinions on the debate before I hear what Rachel Maddow has to say about it.  That way, if she agrees with me, I feel extra smart, and if she doesn't, it gives me food for thought.  I don't know what the sports equivalent of this is, but I'm sure it exists.  


So screw you, Guy at Party.  And also, deepest apologies, Roommates.  You're going to have to put up with a lot more debates before this is all over.