20 ms·

This is fantastic advise for effective debate. I would add: * agree on the meaning of the words you use. * be upfront about how willing you are to be wrong /

• _dps 9y ago
  I really like the part about agreeing on words, and I'd riff on a bit more with two sub-patterns i've found useful 1) "I see when you say X you mean [specific definition]. Given that definition I agree with you, but I disagree with the definition" 2) "When I say X it seems it means [specific definition] to you. Rather than fight over the definition I will avoid saying X and use different terms so we can keep moving"
  • thomastjeffery 9y ago
    This is a really problem with some specific topics like copyright, where the terms were invented for propaganda. We really need a better word than "piracy".
• mistermann 9y ago
  > be upfront about how willing you are to be wrong / change your mind (I phrase this as "what would have to be true for you to accept I am right" and vice versa for my beliefs). This would often be a highly productive way to start the discussion, because very often the situation is that one side or the other is vehemently not willing to have their mind changed, which I'd argue is the case with most arguments you'll see on Facebook or Reddit.
• woodandsteel 9y ago
  * agree on the meaning of the words you use. Agreed, this is very important. One way to handle it when the two of you have different meanings for a word is to keep using the word, but add a different qualifier in front for each meaning, i.e. logical proof versus empirical proof.