>Forcing people to justify, out loud, why they want to use a specific technology or trendy design pattern is usually sufficient to scuttle complex plans. Does

>Forcing people to justify, out loud, why they want to use a specific technology or trendy design pattern is usually sufficient to scuttle complex plans. Does that really work ? Usually these guys read the sales pitch from some credible source. Then you need to show them that the argument is X works really well for scenario Y but your scenario Z is not really similar to Y so reasons why X is good for Y don't really apply. To do this you usually rely on experience so you need to expand even further. And the other side is usually attached to their proposal and starts pushing back and because you're the guy arguing against something and need a deep discussion to prove your point chances are people give up and you end up looking hostile. Even if you win you don't really look good - you just shut someone down and spent a lot of time arguing, unless the rest of the team was already against the idea you'll just look bad. I just don't bother - if I'm in a situation where someone gives these kind of people decision power they deserve what they get - I get paid either way. And if I have the decision making power I just shut it down without much discussion - I just invoke some version of 'I know this approach works and that's good enough for me'.