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Posted

I don't debate much on this forum, but I often do in non-internet life and on other online forums and I frequently need to remind myself of the following:Ā 

https://effectiviology.com/principle-of-charity/

Address the best possible version of your opponent’s argument, even if it involves improving their argument for them (i.e. use steel man arguments).Ā  If there is ambiguity in their arguments, don't assume the worst possible version and attack it.Ā Ā If your opponent misspeaks, says somethingĀ incorrect, or states something poorly and needs to clarify,Ā don't harp on the mistake and ignore the fundamental pointĀ they are attempting to make; let them make their clarification and address the final point.Ā  IfĀ your opponent gives three arguments, don't attack the worst one and ignore the better arguments (i.e. weak man).Ā  Don't deliberately misrepresent their arguments and attack those misrepresentations (i.e. straw man).Ā Ā 

If you do the above, your opponents will respect you, even if they ultimately disagree,Ā and will seek your thoughts.Ā  You also may even influence others and help lead folks to other perspectives.Ā  IfĀ you don't do these things, your opponentsĀ will not seek your thoughts, they will only engage you out of sheer frustration,Ā andĀ you will influence no one.Ā  I used to take the latter approach and would try to hammer people for every mistake and didn't really care to understandĀ their point of view.Ā  I thought theseĀ wereĀ solid debate tactics.Ā  I now recognize how ridiculous this approach is; it actually leads to the opposite of what one is presumablyĀ after in a debate as the opposition just digs in deeper and no one learns anything.

Ā 

Posted
23 minutes ago, F250 said:

Great advice but we're more into poo flinging around here.

Ā 

It would be hard to grow out of this early prepubescent phase without help from mom and dad

Posted (edited)
22 hours ago, F250 said:

Great advice but we're more into poo flinging around here.

Ā 

It's certainty easy to resort to poo flinging.Ā  It's much less effort and more gratifying in the moment.Ā Ā 

I think there is more opportunity to apply theĀ principle of charity in daily interactions and evaluations than in explicit debates.Ā  For example, how does one view and evaluate theirĀ political/philosophical/religious opposition in general?Ā  Do you focus on the low information sensationalist journalists who only care bout views and clicks as theĀ representatives of the opposition or do you genuinely seek out the serious advocates who attemptĀ to accuratelyĀ represent both sides and articulateĀ serious responses?Ā  People like that are outĀ there, but they aren't very popular as we tend to want either heroes or demons.Ā Ā 

Edited by Guest


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