Was there anything Monty Python didn't predict about the internet?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Though the Pythons preceded the internet by 20 years, they will be remembered a century from now as the basis for the term "spam," coined as an allusion their spam sketch.

Lately I am struck how they also managed to predict the dynamics of Internet discussion boards in their "argument clinic" sketch.

Man: Oh, this is futile!
Mr Vibrating: No it isn't.
Man: I came here for a good argument.
Mr Vibrating: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
Man: An argument isn't just contradiction.
Mr Vibrating: It can be.
Man: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
Mr Vibrating: No it isn't.
Man: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
Mr Vibrating: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
Man: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
Mr Vibrating: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person makes.

(short pause)

Mr Vibrating: No it isn't.
Man: It is.
Mr Vibrating: Not at all.

[baldguy]

1. No they didn't

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. Shut your festering gob, you tit! You vacuous, toffee-nosed, maloderous, pervert

[baldguy]

5. Oh, I'm sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. Look, let's get this thing clear; I quite definitely told you.

[baldguy]

10. No you didn't!

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Thereby predicting the onset of flamewars N/T

[Itchinjim]

2. Yes they did.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Coming full circle, the internet pays homage to 'The Argument Clinic'

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. That avatar is great! You've automated the whole political process, so we can go back to watching TV

[Major Hogwash]

9. Hahaha - I thought for a minute you were going to mention Arthur Pewty!

But, alas, I guess that would be against the rulez.

LoL

[PurityOfEssence]

14. It's your type whut causes unrest.

n/t

[BootinUp]

11. The internet is the silly, obnoxious, rude, and very rarely

brilliant and insightful tendencies of the human race represented in digital form.

[Raejeanowl]

12. Spot-On!

I love and adore the Pythons-what visionaries-or maybe they weren't?

Thanks for an extremely astute observation and a big, big laugh!!!

[PurityOfEssence]

13. Don't give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!

--I came here for an argument.
--What!
--Shut your festering gob, you tit! Your type makes me puke! You vacuous toffee-nosed malodorous pervert!
--Look! I came here for an argument.
--Oh! I'm sorry, this is abuse.

Yes, I'm afraid you've made the same mistake coming to DU-GDP: this is abuse.

Stupid git.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

17. You are correct. GP:P is the abuse clinic

[Echo In Light]

15. "It's..."

The BISHOP!

I loved how irreverent they were with their various takes on organized religion.

"...we're all impressed down here, I can tell you."

[valerief]

16. Wow, that sounds more like today's political debate between pundits. nt