Read on Twitter
How to argue effectively*: a thread
*disclaimer- I& #39;m not so naive as to pretend that you& #39;ll ever change the mind of the person you& #39;re arguing with, but I have seen a discussion, when done properly, have some affect on bystanders: they are who you& #39;re truly making a case to.
*disclaimer- I& #39;m not so naive as to pretend that you& #39;ll ever change the mind of the person you& #39;re arguing with, but I have seen a discussion, when done properly, have some affect on bystanders: they are who you& #39;re truly making a case to.
Another disclaimer: this thread is not intended to tell anyone how to tweet or what they MUST or MUST NOT do. I can& #39;t tell you what to do. It is simply an advice thread.
Some people choose not to engage, and that is perfectly valid, but if you do, I hope you& #39;ll find this helpful.
Some people choose not to engage, and that is perfectly valid, but if you do, I hope you& #39;ll find this helpful.
When most people hear the word "argument" they imagine a heated, personal, emotion-fueled disagreement.
The first step is to change your outlook.
For the purposes of this thread, an argument refers to the fact or opinion being discussed and the way in which it is presented.
The first step is to change your outlook.
For the purposes of this thread, an argument refers to the fact or opinion being discussed and the way in which it is presented.
Building a strong argument do& #39;s:
1. Be knowledgeable. Have a complex understanding of the subject, including counterpoints the other person may use. Be ready, and know your answer.
We have an advantage on the internet vs. in person, because we can take the time to do research.
1. Be knowledgeable. Have a complex understanding of the subject, including counterpoints the other person may use. Be ready, and know your answer.
We have an advantage on the internet vs. in person, because we can take the time to do research.
2. Be clear and concise. Make your point quickly and in a way that is easy to understand. This prevents misunderstandings, having to reiterate your point, and spending a lot of time and energy on any one piece of information.
3. Answer with information. Be sure to address every counterpoint, don& #39;t skip one just because it is less comfortable to answer. Avoid showing the other person which areas you are less confident in.
4. Try not to get emotional. Many times, when someone runs out of answers, they will resort to personal insults. Understand that this is actually good for you- it comes from a place of frustration and pride and weakens their position to anyone watching the interaction.
5. Keep a level head, and act with integrity and compassion. It may seem counterintuitive to show kindness to someone who is attacking you, but it& #39;s worth it. It speaks to your character and shows others that you are the kind of person they should hear out.
Strong augment DON& #39;Ts:
1. Don& #39;t deflect. If you dance around a counterpoint, or avoid addressing it, it shows that you are not confident in your argument.
If you& #39;re not confident, why should anyone else be?
1. Don& #39;t deflect. If you dance around a counterpoint, or avoid addressing it, it shows that you are not confident in your argument.
If you& #39;re not confident, why should anyone else be?
2. Don& #39;t project. Never accuse someone else of something you& #39;re also guilty of. This takes a lot of self awareness and situational intelligence, but it& #39;s crucial. The fastest way to destroy your own argument is hypocrisy.
3. Don& #39;t argue something you can& #39;t back up with indesputable facts. Even if you are confident something is true, no one is going to care if you can& #39;t prove it. Facts, numbers, photos, have them all ready to go.
4. Don& #39;t insult. Not only is it the right thing to do, but as far as any onlooker is concerned, if you had a sound argument that you believed in you wouldn& #39;t have to resort to personal insults.
5. Don& #39;t let the other person get under your skin. They will undoubtedly try, which is why all of this is not for everyone and should be practiced with discretion and in moderation.
Lastly, know when to give up. Most people on the internet can& #39;t be reasoned with, and again, it& #39;s not your goal to change their mind.
Your goal should be to show others, perhaps those who stumbled on your interaction while researching an issue they were undecided on,-
Your goal should be to show others, perhaps those who stumbled on your interaction while researching an issue they were undecided on,-
-where the facts point. Another good goal is to show the same people that those who hold the same opinion as you are kind, intelligent, thoughtful and resilient. You may not (and probably will not) win over the person you are directly interacting with, but your-
-impact will likely go far beyond where you think it will.
But most importantly, always remember to take care of yourselves mentally and emotionally
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✌️" title="Victory hand" aria-label="Emoji: Victory hand">
But most importantly, always remember to take care of yourselves mentally and emotionally
