| Most people love a good debate just on its own | | | | to be consistent (they want to keep saying "yes" |
| merit. It's fun to sit around and debate on things with | | | | once they've started) - and they like things to be |
| others, challenging your own perspective and | | | | orderly and logical. |
| stretching your mind. Of course, the most gratifying | | | | Don't Allow Assumptions: People like to assume things |
| kind of debate is the kind you win. It's often nice to | | | | and group people and things into their stereotypical |
| open your mind to the perspectives others can offer | | | | assumptions. Don't allow this in an argument. These |
| - but if you want to win, here are some steps to | | | | assumptions and generalizations are often invalid. |
| help you: | | | | They're also infuriating. Nothing is worse than going |
| Re frame the Argument: Oftentimes you can totally | | | | into an intelligent debate only to have the opposing |
| turn an argument around just by framing it in a | | | | side continuously shoot down your argument because |
| different way. By doing this you don't change the | | | | they believe some generalization or stereotype. |
| core of the debate and you don't give in on your | | | | Unfortunately, this is often how many people start |
| position. You simply spin the debate in a way that | | | | debates and this is the same place they end - they |
| makes someone look at it differently. You can also | | | | want to continue believing their stereotypes. |
| introduce evidence that lets the other person or | | | | Using the above example, someone might say "all |
| people look at things differently. | | | | cows have miserable lives, so we shouldn't eat beef |
| For instance, if you're having a debate on meat | | | | or milk products." This is a generalization and a |
| eating versus vegetarianism, people often argue | | | | stereotypical idea of what farm life is. Counter this |
| against eating meat because of the horrible lives | | | | quickly and decisively - "Not all cows live in miserable |
| animals lead on factory farms. This is true, and it's an | | | | factory farms. Small, sustainable farms where cows |
| argument you can't counter well. However, you can | | | | eat grass and have plenty of pasture are making a |
| re frame the debate by pointing out that animals | | | | come back. Isn't it good to send your dollars to a |
| living on sustainable, small farm operations lead | | | | sustainable local farm like this, rather than to a big |
| healthy, happy lives. These animals eat proper food | | | | conglomerate making processed soy foods in |
| and are usually well-cared for before they get to the | | | | Mexico?" |
| plate. This is a way to re frame a debate and at | | | | That simple statement has done two things - it has |
| least bring it around to other points. | | | | slammed the assumption and generalization that all |
| Get a Yes: Good marketers and salesmen know that | | | | cows are raised on factory farms, and it has also |
| if you can get somebody started with saying "yes" | | | | introduced something the opposition can say "yes" to |
| to something small, they'll often keep saying "yes." | | | | (it's better to support local, sustainable farms than |
| Use this to your advantage during an argument. If | | | | mega-corporations producing food on foreign soil.) |
| you can get your opponent or opponents to agree | | | | Using these three techniques you can quickly gain an |
| with you on several smaller points, you can weave | | | | upper hand in arguments and weave your way to |
| the argument more and more in your favor. As they | | | | winning the debate. It is, of course, always good to |
| agree with these little points, build into powerful | | | | keep your mind open - but it's also very nice to |
| points that they feel compelled to agree with | | | | savor a victory. Enjoy! |
| because they see the logical progression. Humans like | | | | |