Never waste time arguing on Facebook.

We think differently and have different ways of accessing information, so the next time someone is aggressive towards you on Facebook, just ignore them and don't waste your time.

Never waste your time arguing with people on Facebook, here's why.

You've probably encountered this situation many times: You post an opinion, a complaint, or a link to an article on Facebook. Someone comments, agreeing or disagreeing with what you said. Another person comments, disagreeing or agreeing with the first commenter, or with you.

Then others jumped in to offer their opinions. Arguments erupted. Cruel language was used in abundance. And very quickly you were drawn into a virtual brawl, with insults flying in all directions, sometimes aimed at people you'd never even met.

There's a simple reason for this: We react very differently to what people write and what people say – even when the content is exactly the same.

This is the result of a fascinating new experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Berkeley. In this study, 300 people read, watched videos, or listened to debates on hot topics such as war, abortion, country music, or rap music. They were then asked about their reactions to opinions they disagreed with.

Their reaction is generally quite familiar to anyone who has ever discussed politics: They believe that those who disagree with them are either stupid or simply don't care about social knowledge and understanding.

But there is a clear difference between those who watch or listen to someone speak and those who read the same content in writing. Those who directly hear or watch someone speak are far less likely to perceive that person as uninformed or heartless than they would be if they read that person's words in writing.

This result is not surprising, at least not to a researcher who came up with the idea for the experiment after their own experience.

“A friend of mine read an excerpt from a newspaper, a speech by a politician he disliked,” researcher Juliana Schroeder recounts. “The very next week, he heard the same speech on the radio. He was shocked to realize his reaction was completely different from when he read the article.” While the written words may seem absurd and arrogant, when spoken aloud, they appear quite reasonable.

We are using the wrong transmission medium.

This study shows that the best way for people who disagree to cooperate and understand each other better is to talk to each other, as they often do at dinners or meetings.

However, nowadays, much of human interaction takes place on social media, through text messages, chat software, or email. Verbal communication or discussion is almost nonexistent. Therefore, it is no coincidence that disagreements and opposition occur constantly.

So what should we do? First, if you want to be persuasive, it's best to make a short video (or send a link to someone else's video) rather than writing down what you want to say. Also, whenever you read something that seems to contradict your opinion, always remember that the fact you see the written text is part of the problem. For a more objective perspective, try reading it aloud or ask someone else to read it to you.

According to Cafebiz