Oops! I stand corrected works ... and I don't even have to give someone else gloating rights in my being in error....
What are the prerequisites of a good debater?
- Thread starter JLM
- Start date
Oops! I stand corrected works ... and I don't even have to give someone else gloating rights in my being in error....
Wow....Yes. That and actually listening/reading what others have written is a big
first step. In any real debate, if you have to resort to insulting your opponent and
not discussing the issue at hand....you aren't contributing to the debate with facts
or details and have effectively lost the debate and are only sidetracking it. Oh, &
the Left/Right Political Spectrum thing doesn't fit into many (most) debates unless
the debate is about the Left/Right Political Spectrum thing....that's just a big
derailment of most Threads & debates.
Debating:
Formats of Debate
Debating Tips
It is more than just stating your opinion, rationalising why you think that way (including personal anecdotes), and then repeating yourself profusely. (Notice I didn't point at anyone in particular?)
Formats of Debate
Debating Tips
It is more than just stating your opinion, rationalising why you think that way (including personal anecdotes), and then repeating yourself profusely. (Notice I didn't point at anyone in particular?)
We should all remember this is a public discussion forum. The debating society is uptown. If one has to attack grammar and spelling (excluding that annoying MSNese/text highschool stuff) then one less should be here.
Debating:
Formats of Debate
Debating Tips
It is more than just stating your opinion, rationalising why you think that way (including personal anecdotes), and then repeating yourself profusely. (Notice I didn't point at anyone in particular?)
Bump...
Research the subject, so that you have facts to back up your views.
· Use logic to develop your case and make your points.
· Think about what the counter arguments are likely to be, so that you can work out your case in advance.
· Be open minded and prepared to change your opinion.
· Don't get drawn into personal attacks.
· Stick to the subject being debated.
· Pay attention to spelling and grammar, it will strengthen your case.
Keep it clean
This is your opportunity to debate the issues that matter to you with people from all corners of the world, so do not spoil this opportunity by posting childish or abusive comments. Likewise, if you notice such comments then please do not respond to them, as this can ruin a good debate. The yourdebate administrator will remove them as soon as possible.
For some reason, most debates tend to deteriorate into arguments because of fragile egos. If I express an opinion on a subject, I understand that it is only my opinion. If someone disagrees, I give them the right to their opinion. If I feel a need to clarify a point because I think that the other has misunderstood what I said, then that is what I do. But I don't think, at least I hope so, call people idiots because they disagree with me.
As for people who always have to have the last word, I feel sorry for them. Their egos must be fragile. To me the truth is only relative to the beholder, so everybody is right to themselves and probably wrong to the majority of others.
As for people who always have to have the last word, I feel sorry for them. Their egos must be fragile. To me the truth is only relative to the beholder, so everybody is right to themselves and probably wrong to the majority of others.
To me the most important points of Internet debate are as follows and what I try to always follow myself..
- Don't bait someone
- Know when to walk away from a topic
- Stay on topic within reason
- Personal attacks are not productive and show your lack of topic knowledge
- Retaliating for a personal attack will get you nowhere..
- It's no crime to be wrong..
If someone in a debate on Religion supports Religion, they are not
automatically wrong, and not automatically a Dolt, & they don't need
to be called one (or a simile of the word Dolt).
If someone in a debate on AGW supports the non-AGW side of a
debate, they are not automatically wrong, and not automatically a
Dolt, & they don't need to be called one (or a simile of the word Dolt).
A Debate involves an exchange of idea's...& even outlandish idea's
may actually turn out to be noteworthy and factual, and the Debate
itself will separate the Wheat from the Chaff without insults and
dismissive attitudes.
automatically wrong, and not automatically a Dolt, & they don't need
to be called one (or a simile of the word Dolt).
If someone in a debate on AGW supports the non-AGW side of a
debate, they are not automatically wrong, and not automatically a
Dolt, & they don't need to be called one (or a simile of the word Dolt).
A Debate involves an exchange of idea's...& even outlandish idea's
may actually turn out to be noteworthy and factual, and the Debate
itself will separate the Wheat from the Chaff without insults and
dismissive attitudes.
I agree. I think we can relax the spelling, grammar, and stuff. But it'd be nice if people actually supplied supporting evidence for their claims (opinions) sometimes.
Anecdotes are cool sometimes but not a regular diet.
Every side has pros and cons. No side is 100% right at anytime.. That is why we debate topics.. 8O
Not really, because the point of a debate is to argue one side of a question or the other. In a proper debate, neither side is 'wrong', as there are no facts being debated, simply opinions on the best course of action. Facts cannot be debated, and opinions, if based on thought, cannot be wrong.
I think the key is to pay attention to the position of others and considering what they
say before responding. I think people should look at an issue from several different
points before responding. I use the skills I learned from over three decades of being
a radio broadcaster and political activist. I have sat, and sit on a couple of Boards of
Directors, of companies and I find being a good listener enables me to respond with
some worthy insight. I believe you should say what you mean, but be tactful, one
should remember you don't need a cannon to kill a fly. We need more good spirited
humor as well. Always remember there is a difference between debate and a verbal
joust. All too often I see posts saying where's the link where's the link, like the wisdom of the ages must come from some talbot in stone, from some infallible
source. If you make a claim, state this is what I believe from what I have read, or
seen and thought about. For example I remember almost everything I read or the
basics of it, and I don't always remember exactly where. Even professional sources
are not always correct they are slanted to the right or left depending on who's
sources they are, in other words read the accounts of anything with a grain of salt
resource facts are only a reference they are not necessarily cast in stone facts
An affective debater is good at the art of persuasion, therefore it helps to be
respectful, after all you get more flies with honey than with vinegar
say before responding. I think people should look at an issue from several different
points before responding. I use the skills I learned from over three decades of being
a radio broadcaster and political activist. I have sat, and sit on a couple of Boards of
Directors, of companies and I find being a good listener enables me to respond with
some worthy insight. I believe you should say what you mean, but be tactful, one
should remember you don't need a cannon to kill a fly. We need more good spirited
humor as well. Always remember there is a difference between debate and a verbal
joust. All too often I see posts saying where's the link where's the link, like the wisdom of the ages must come from some talbot in stone, from some infallible
source. If you make a claim, state this is what I believe from what I have read, or
seen and thought about. For example I remember almost everything I read or the
basics of it, and I don't always remember exactly where. Even professional sources
are not always correct they are slanted to the right or left depending on who's
sources they are, in other words read the accounts of anything with a grain of salt
resource facts are only a reference they are not necessarily cast in stone facts
An affective debater is good at the art of persuasion, therefore it helps to be
respectful, after all you get more flies with honey than with vinegar
Yes, Ron, this left/right is pretty much bullsh*t- there's a poster on here, not sure who it is just now, who often tries that tack.
Has there ever been an opinion not based in thought?
yes, some people open their mouths, start talking, then
sometime later, their brain clicks in.
Again left and right are only relative terms, and many people speak in their opinion
of what left and right means, and that does not make it left or right.
The way I view the world we should be socially progressive, and at the same time
fiscally conservative, so I don't fit in with the dogma of either side.
If you cannot take the other persons ideas into consideration, progress cannot even
be contemplated, as the discussion goes round and round like a dog chasing its tail.
I often think to myself, gee I never thought of it that way before. After all in a well
balanced society, we can't always have things my way or the highway, In our workplace, our homes and in the organizations we belong to interaction requires the
art of compromise. Even in politics, the concept of left and right is a distraction it
aborts good ideas regardless of who's good ideas they are
of what left and right means, and that does not make it left or right.
The way I view the world we should be socially progressive, and at the same time
fiscally conservative, so I don't fit in with the dogma of either side.
If you cannot take the other persons ideas into consideration, progress cannot even
be contemplated, as the discussion goes round and round like a dog chasing its tail.
I often think to myself, gee I never thought of it that way before. After all in a well
balanced society, we can't always have things my way or the highway, In our workplace, our homes and in the organizations we belong to interaction requires the
art of compromise. Even in politics, the concept of left and right is a distraction it
aborts good ideas regardless of who's good ideas they are