Productive Arguments?

There are some very crude techniques which have entered popular debate:

* Speak louder than the other person. This doesn’t win you the argument.

* Speak longer than the other person. This doesn’t win you the argument.

* Get more emotive than the other person. This usually doesn’t win you the argument. (But can in some cases.)

* Mention Hitler and the Nazis. This usually doesn’t win you the argument. (But can in some cases.)

* Go for the ad hominem. Make personal remarks about the other person. Usually doesn’t win you the argument unless it’s about that person.

None of these are very good substitutes for real debate.

Nice little video, Mom. I ended up watching a couple other videos on there. This one could be a little oversimplified, but the basic premises are sound I think. Thanks for sharing.

I’d add to SamBee’s list: Repeating the same thing over and over doesn’t make it true.

Oh yes that gem! It doesn’t make it true, but occasionally I think something which is true bears repeating. Sometimes you just have to realize that logical argument will not work on someone.

And some people are just argumentative for the sake of it I’m afraid.t

I blame .modern high level politicians for destroying the art of debate and replacing it with speech writing, image and mud slinging.

I blame 24/7 news media and much of the blogging world, since those venues thrive only if they create and encourage controversy and argumentation (as opposed to thoughtful debate). Extremes drive ratings.

Yes, and those media love “soundbites” and memes.