By Brett & Kate McKay
When you run a website for a living, you get a front-row seat to the nature of online rhetoric. Each day dozens of comments are submitted to the blog and their quality varies widely. Some are highly intelligent and articulate – enjoyable to read even when they disagree with the content of an article. On the other end of the spectrum are comments that are so logically unsound, poorly written, or grammatically incorrect that they kind of make you fear for the future of humanity (truly). Most comments fall somewhere in-between. For better and for worse, the internet has become our town square – the place where we connect, debate, and dialogue. Unfortunately, online communication doesn't always rise to the level of its potential. There's a lot one can say about the ins and outs of the art of rhetoric, but today let's take a quick look at three easy ways to elevate it just a bit. How you start an online comment – whether it's on a blog, Facebook, or forum, is important. It's your comment's first impression, if you will. You're setting the tone for what you're going to say. Will people want to listen to you and consider your thoughts and perspective? In order to step right out of the gate in a civil and intelligent manner, I recommend avoiding these three methods of starting a comment. In my humble opinion, no man worth his salt should employ them. Ever. 3 Ways You Should Never Start an Online Comment "I hate to be pedantic/nitpicky/that guy, but……" A man always says what he means. And yet "I hate to be ____" statements invariably preface a point that is precisely of the nature the writer claims to hate! "I hate to be pedantic, but nonplussed means the opposite of how you have used it here." If you truly hated to be pedantic, you would not be someone who felt compelled to correct small errors that you found on the internet. So why not own up to and embrace your nitpicky nature and drop the false pretense? Of course if you feel the need to frontload a cushion onto your statement like that, perhaps it's best to reflect on why. Maybe your correction isn't so important after all. "Really?!” “Seriously?!" This opening salvo is yet another violation of saying what you mean, and is a sure sign that a man is responding more emotionally than logically. New York Times television critic Neil Genzlinger argues that the snarky, faddish "Really?" is "undoing 2,000 years' worth of human progress." Now he was being purposefully hyperbolic, but still, he's on to something. As Genzlinger explains, "Really?" used to be employed to express genuine surprise or the earnest desire for more information. "Catherine's leg got chewed off by a shark." "Really?" But now it has become a one-word sneer, used to "indicate a contempt so complete that it requires no clarification." This, Genzlinger writes, is what makes "Really?" a "cop out word," for "it relieves the user of having to clarify his own position or approach new ideas with genuine curiosity." This is the crux of the problem with "Really?" or "Seriously?" – they are often used in place of a true, nuanced, intelligent argument. It's a rhetorical shortcut for when you're steamed about something but can't be bothered to explain why in a coherent or civil manner. Occasionally, people do preface their online argument with a "Really?" and then go on to flesh out their criticism further. You already know that the person you're responding to really means what they say, or else why would they have posted it? So why bother opening your comments with a question you're asking not out of sincerity, but in order to express your disdain for them and their ideas? Why frontload your argument with contempt? Good rhetoric — that is to say convincing, influential rhetoric — stays civil and even starts out by building common ground before segueing into areas of disagreement. "Meh." I'm not sure that "Really?" is eroding modern civilization, but I might put my vote in for "meh" for that role. In all seriousness, "meh" might be my least favorite word (if you can call it such) in the English language. "Meh" is used to show one's indifference, boredom, and most commonly, a state of being utterly unimpressed with something. The reason it rankles is because it implies a relationship to the world in which the writer is a passive consumer, and everything else exists to entertain and interest him. Basically, he expects everything he consumes online to align with his own personal standards, interests, and tastes. If these inflated expectations are not met, he is disappointed. "I, the emperor of one, am not well pleased! Send in another jester!" I am puzzled by these expectations. Sometimes the media I consume greatly pleases me, sometimes I feel it falls short. But I am rarely disappointed. I don't feel it their job to please me; I create my own pleasure. An educated man should never be bored. I figure something may not have appealed to me, but may have appealed greatly to someone else – my own taste is not a foolproof metric for judgment. I also realize it's natural for the human producers of any kind of content (be it novels, albums, televisions shows, or blog posts) to have high points and low points. If something does actively disappoint me, I am not inclined to comment on it. And that's my beef with "meh." If something bored you, and you don't wish to engage with it, why bother saying so? “Meh” expresses indifference, but an indifference not thorough enough to resist making itself known. As John Hodgman put it, meh "universally seems to signal: I am just interested enough to make one last joyless, nitpicky swipe and then disappear." Hodgman also touches on another unfortunate aspect of meh: "It’s part of the toxic Internet art of constant callous one upsmanship." Someone will convey some kind of passion, enthusiasm, or interest in something, and someone else will come along and pour a cold bucket of water on that fire with their droll "meh." A "meh" says "I'm too cool/intelligent to get worked up about something as dumb as this. Too bad you haven't attained the same level of sophistication as me.” In short, "meh" aims to show one's indifference to something based solely on its lack of alignment with one's personal taste. It's what you reach for when you lack the discipline to remain silent, or are too lazy to make an argument, and no thumbs up, thumbs down button is within reach. Are there other words or phrases that you feel should be jettisoned in order to elevate online discussion? Share your meh-less, really-less opinions with us in the comments! 
  
By Brett
Welcome to Day #7 of the AoM sandwich project. Last month we asked readers for their best sandwich recommendations. Out of 483 submissions, we picked 20 to highlight here on the site each weekday during the month of April. At the end, we'll publish all the entries into an epic man-sandwich cookbook. Enjoy. Today's Sandwich: Three Cheese Italian Sandwich by Henry We haven’t really covered a cold-cut sandwich yet during our month of sandwiches, and since it’s a popular, easy-to-make standard, I figured it was about time we did. This is a good ensemble too. Henry submitted an Italian-themed sandwich that uses Italian meats, three Italian cheeses, and even Italian dressing. Will his sandwich make me exclaim “Mamma mia!”? Let’s find out. Ingredients  - Provolone cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Ham
- Capicola
- Salami
- White bread
- Italian dressing
- Garlic powder
- Mayo
Step 1: Spread the Mayo  Henry says to go light on the mayo. Step 2: Add a Layer of Provolone Cheese  Step 3: Add the Capicola
Step 4: Add a Bit of Italian Dressing 
Step 5: Add Layer of Mozzarella 
Step 6: Add Layer of Salami 
Step 7: More Italian Dressing 
Step 8: Add Shredded Parmesan 
Step 9: Add Layer of Ham 
Step 10: More Italian Dressing 
Step 11: Add a Dash of Garlic Powder 
Finished Product
Taster’s Notes 
Mamma mia! That’s a good sandwich! Really great cold-cut combo and simple to make. This was the first time I’ve ever had capicola, and I’ve become a fan for life. I think some slices of pepperoni would make this already super Italian sandwich even better. In my experience, pepperoni makes almost everything better. My only complaint was that the sandwich was a bit dry, even with the copious amounts of Italian dressing. I’m not sure there’s much you can do about that, seeing how this sandwich has a lot of dry, hard meats and cheeses like salami, capicola, and parmesan. Maybe more mayo would help. All washed down with a Virgil’s Root Beer. 
  
By A Manly Guest Contributor
Editor's note: This is the third in a series of three editions of Outfitted and Equipped where I've asked three of my favorite men's lifestyle bloggers to curate an edition based on what they would wear and carry when linking up with friends at their favorite hometown hangout. This one is from Michael Williams who resides in NYC and blogs at A Continuous Lean. A New York institution, Keens was founded in 1885 and is best known for its beautiful wood-paneled bar, the thousands of clay pipes that cover the place (Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Will Rogers & Albert Einstein all have their pipes on display) and of course its famous mutton chop. Keens is located not far from Herald Square on 36th Street. It's part of NYC that I rarely go because it can be so crowded and annoying, but it is worth the trip and the hassle. The place has history, the bartenders are efficient and knowledgeable, the crowd is interesting, atmosphere is enjoyable, and the food is great. What more could you want? How does Outfitted and Equipped work? The FAQ. 1. The Watch: IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII. A simple and classic watch from one of my favorite watchmakers. The Mark XVII evolved from the great IWC pilot’s watch of the 1940s. 2. The Belt: Tanner Goods Standard Belt. These guys do a great job of making very high quality small leather goods. These little things are often overlooked, but not here. The leather is great, and so is the hardware. 3. The Jewelry: Col. Littleton Copper Engravable Wristwire. I generally am against bracelets as a rule, but these are simple enough. Plus, I love anything monogrammed. 4. The Tie: Alexander Olch Chambray Tie. I've known Alex for six years or so, and I'm constantly impressed with his dedication to both making great looking things and to pushing the American cravat industry to new heights. 5. The Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarer. Nice update to the classic Wayfarer. I like these glasses because you can easily keep them in a jacket pocket and tuck them away. 6. The Briefcase: Lotuff Bridle English Briefcase. Classic in looks and made in the United States; much like Keens, this bag only gets better with age. 7. The Jeans: Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1954 501Z. The first ever zip fly 501 from Levi's. These jeans have the slimmest leg of any Levi's 501 through history. I wear them as often as I can. 8. The Beverage: Jameson Irish Whiskey. 9. The Pre-Outing Routine: Ursa Major Big Kahuna Skin Care Set. It's important to remember that while men generally age nicely, a little preventative maintenance (as my old man would say) never hurt anyone. 10. The Jacket: Baracuta G9. Good enough for McQueen, good enough for me. 11. The Shirt: New England Shirt Co. Pinpoint Oxford. This shirt transcends style and trends. It may fray and need some bleach, but will never go out of style. Made in Fall River, Massachusetts. 12. The Camera: Canon Powershot S110. I think this is the best point and shoot on the market and I almost always have it on me. 13. The Flask: Kaufmann Mercantile Handmade Copper Flask. Beautiful copper flask from one of my favorite online shops. You need this because sometimes the bar is crowded and you hate waiting for your next drink. 14. The Socks: Uniqlo Men’s Socks. The Japanese are sock experts, in my opinion. Crazy value for your money here. 15. The Boots: Alden Alpine Wingtip Boot. Beautiful (nine eyelet!) leather boots from the New England shoemaking gods and only available from Leather Soul, one of the greatest shoe stores ever created. _____________________________________ Michael Williams is the founder and owner of A Continuous Lean, a blog that highlights products and stories “for those with an appreciation of quality, style and provenance.” Be sure to check out ACL’s American List for a resource of Made in America clothing and goods. Unlike other such lists that often feature tacky products, The American List is geared towards younger consumers who are looking for domestically made items that are cool and stylish. 
  
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