There's something to be said for being straightforward though. If you can subtly build a flowing narrative that eloquently describes your beliefs without stati

There's something to be said for being straightforward though. If you can subtly build a flowing narrative that eloquently describes your beliefs without stating them, good for you. I generally do better just by calling a spade a spade, even if it doesn't like being called a spade. Sometimes people don't like that, and I accept it. But in general, I think people trust me because they know there aren't multiple levels of meaning to everything I say. And besides that, what's wrong with cult-of-personality moves? Generally, strictly logical arguments don't get anywhere. I know because I've spent years losing arguments because I couldn't focus on anything but the logic. :-)