Reading, having a large vocabulary, and knowing grammar is akin to knowing the syntax of a programming language, but not knowing how to actually build applicati

Reading, having a large vocabulary, and knowing grammar is akin to knowing the syntax of a programming language, but not knowing how to actually build applications. They certainly help but are not sufficient. Personally I’ve spent > 10 years arguing with strangers on the internet. It can be a fun way to pass the time, I think many here would agree. I believe I’m a lot more effective now than I was years ago. I think you have to be aware of concepts and definitions, not only how you think of them but how the other person thinks of them, so you can argue in their terms, yes this implies active listening or reading, as you indicated. Also being able to explain things in multiple ways. Finally, I think the onus is on me to make myself understood, not on the reader to understand me. This can be a subtle distinction many fail to realize. If you ever find yourself saying “you didn’t understand me” then chances are you have some work to do.