THE ART OF DEBATE One of the things I gave up on a long time ago was focusing on

THE ART OF DEBATE

One of the things I gave up on a long time ago was focusing on people’s stupid errors unless they start to rely on ad hominems.

Disputes can almost always be reduced to a central argument, which is either one of taste, utility or truth.

If people use ad hominems I try to call them out and then return to the central problem of the argument.

And I don’t really even like focusing on their errors. I just try to restate their words in the context of the central argument.

One tactic that I do use, is to taunt people in order to obtain their participation. I probably shouldn’t do that, but when the opposition is so ready to rely on every rhetorical fallacy in the book, it just seems …. fair…. and warranted. 🙂

But the best advice is to stay in the context of the central argument.