> in order for you to have the basis to discuss an argument with the other side, you need to be able to state the other side's argument in a way that the other

> in order for you to have the basis to discuss an argument with the other side, you need to be able to state the other side's argument in a way that the other side would not disagree with, then you get to make your point. This a great way of phrasing what I'd been thinking about as "arguing from someone else's shoes".