Debate hints

[Massacure]

I tend to get into arguments with people alot, and I'm sure I will get into more as the elections get closer. What are some good tips for debating?

[seabeyond]

1. give them the facts, odnt exaggerate or guess

and the biggest...........you are not there to change mind. let go of the batle of changing mind then in ease you allow them to change their mind instead of putting up a wall.

[doni_georgia]

2. Know your facts, and have documentation to back them up

[lazarus]

3. realise that you're not going to change their minds

And that's not the point. The point is that you're debating for everyone who's watching or reading. So be professional and mature, and make the other side look bad.

[TrustingDog]

12. The point is that you're debating for everyone who's watching or reading.

that's the answer.
It's not who you are debating so much as the many who see your message.

[mzmolly]

4. Listen to Limbaugh, so you can prepare for what the *other side* is

pontificating this week. ;)

[mmonk]

5. smile

and smirk at them when they try to make their points.

[wyldwolf]

6. know your facts...

...don't speak (or post) unless you know for sure what you are comuunicating is true and that you can provide sources if necessary.

Don't accept you opponant's personal experiences as proof.
Don't allow your opponent to stray or divert from the topic.

[hlthe2b]

7. Focus... Limit your scope of argument and pick those most important

points rather than try to cover EVerything!

[NMDemDist2]

8. there is one thing i have noticed about debating with a RWer

they will grab on to one point and hang on like a bulldog. You can't just gloss over anything.

for instance, if the RW says "Bush never said Saddam and 9/11" you can argue that they drew broad hints and mislead etc etc and the RWer will come back "But he never said Saddam and 9/11"

so I have found to answer or concede each and every point they bring up or they will have you in a circular argument so fast, until you get so frustrated you start screaming, then they win by walking off shaking their heads about what wackos the left are

so to recap, acknowledge and rebut or concede each of their little talking points or they will just dig in on the unanswered point. They are great about throwing in one little tidbit that is almost impossible to refute, then banging you over the head with it while ignoring the points you successfully rebut completely

here is the example I was referring to http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x57469

[SOteric]

9. Learn to recognise informal fallacy.

http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/fallacy.htm

[NMDemDist2]

14. very nice article thanks SOteric n/t

[muchacho]

10. Give them enough rope...

Figure out the 10 or so typical arguments currently used as talking points by the Right (i,e, Saddam and bin Laden were college room mates) and let them go off for a while until they are very pleased with the their succinct, and wrong, point.


Then BAM...you'll be ready.

And never EVER loose your temper. And concede a point now and then, it allows you to look fair.

[proud patriot]

11. bush violated the Constitution

$30,000 a month for private mercenaries while our
Troops go without all the proper equipment .

Cuts to Veterans benefits

Stop Loss , keeping troops without consent

extended Combat Duty , and sometimes double
extensions.

$200,000,000,000 spent in Iraq could of put
an armed Border Agent every 200 yards of our
thousands of miles of Borders . Ports go without
proper security .

American Citizens being held w/o due process.

The outing of Valerie Plame a CIA NOC who
ran an international Clandestine Network
of agents whose sole purpose was to keep
WMD out of the hands of Terrorists .

Terror is growing under the policies of bush.
In fact bush clearly plays right into osama's rhetoric.
Moderate Muslims are critical in gaining a more
stable more peaceful world .

On Sept. 12th the whole world was united with
America , bush has pushed them all away .

His policies our shortsighted , not very
well thought out and puts us Americans at risk .

[eaprez]

13. Resist the urge.....

...to turn it into a personal attack.