Who's Got the Goods
Every argument on the internet comes down to one question: who’s got the goods? I’ve thought about this a lot, because I argue on the internet a lot. Here’s my take.
What proof actually is
Proof is a fact with a timestamp. The screenshot of the deleted post. The quote with the link attached. The number with the source named. The date on the prediction.
Proof is not an opinion. Opinions are free; proof is work. That asymmetry is the whole point: when someone has done the work, the argument is theirs. When someone hasn’t, they’re trading on the work of other people — or on your willingness not to check.
Not all proof is equal
There’s a hierarchy, and it’s worth knowing:
Top tier: the thing itself. The speech recording, the filing, the contract, the post before it got deleted. Screenshots of the deleted post are top tier — the deletion is the proof.
Second tier: corroborated. Two independent sources reporting the same fact. Not two sources quoting each other — that’s one source with a copy machine.
Third tier: attributed. “Someone said” with no name, no link, no date. This is a vibe wearing a citation.
Bottom tier: vibes. “Everyone knows.” “It’s obvious.” “I’ve seen it around.” These are weather reports, not evidence.
A few rules I try to argue by
The claim proves itself, not the skeptic. “Prove it’s not true” is not an argument; it’s a bill you don’t owe.
One piece of proof beats a hundred vibes. A single dated screenshot outranks an hour of confident repetition.
Keep only the proof you’d actually show. Cherry-picking is cheating. Pick your evidence honestly, or I’ll pick it for you — in public.
Cite the date. An argument without a date is a prediction disguised as a fact. “This is happening” from last year and “this is happening” from today are different claims wearing the same clothes.
Why I care so much
The internet is the largest argument in human history, conducted without a referee. The only referee is the proof. Platforms delete, timelines collapse, and memories get negotiated — the screenshot is the one institution that survives.
Count the goods before you count the likes. The likes tell you the room; the proof tells you the truth.