Arguments

[keillord]

I used the searchbar and didn't find this topic so...

I super suck at arguments, I almost never win.

Does anyone have any tips to do better in an argument or at least not look like a total idiot.

 

[delet]

Think of arguing more as a debate. Your goal is to try, to the best of your ability, to convey your message and why you think the way you do to your opponent. This is best done by avoiding getting angry, cussing, or getting worked up about the subject. You want to stay cool and listen to everything your opponent is saying so you can understand their ideas in just the way you want them to understand your ideas.

That's the basic ideas of how I 'argue' methinks. If you debate, instead of argue, then you will never truly loose but instead gain knowledge and hopefully understand more than you did before the 'argument'. If you can persuade your opponent into believing the way you believe, you've won. If you can at the very least get your opponent to understand why you think they way you think, you've also won. It's more about getting your point across than 'winning.'

 

[Frequen-Z]

There's no secret to it, just have good counter-points to the oppositions conclusions and have a lot of supporting reasoning for your own.

Pounce on any argumentative flaws they show, such as straw men (the deliberate misrepresentation of an argument), attacking the attacker rather than the topic at hand, generalising too much. In a heated argument though, pointing out flaws in the opposition just makes you look like a smart arse, so be careful.

I have an A Level in Critical Thinking so this is one area I like to think I have expertise in.

 

[Peanut Butter]

i find that if faced with an opposotion that uses perfectly rational thinking and logical arguments the best way to effectively infuriate them is to just use acomplete abscenc eof logic, bring up entirely unrelated topics, it will infuriate themto the point of losing..

Alternatively, if in doubt insult their mother.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I always follow the philosophy of "Attack the issue, not each other."
Anyone who doesn't follow the same philosophy I just dismiss as a moron. It's impossible to use logic and rationality against someone who's rebuttal is "Yeah well fuck you, you smell".

 

[Lux Solis Invicti]

Alternatively, if in doubt insult their mother.

Being skilled in the manly art of pugilism can also win you some arguments.

 

[Disaster Button]

Don't lose your temper. That's the main thing, especially on here.

Lose your temper, and you get mod wrathed. An argument is not the same thing as a shouting match.

Another good point, concede defeat when you have been beaten. There's nothing more pathetic than someone trying to argue when they've obviously totally lost the argument.

I for one love a good argument, even if I don't win, it just makes me feel good extrapolating my opinion and that.

Its like you went to the future and stole my post.

Keeping calm in arguements whether its on or offline is a very good thing.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Keep your head and present your points well. If you feel you haven't won the debate merely acknowledge the loss and move on

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Numbers. Use the power of numbers and statistics, make them up if you have to (within reason). People respect anything with a %. They're also harder to argue against. Also, know your opponent, if they get embarrassed easily, then make it personal (don't do this with friends). Also, if you lose, accept it graciously. That way people won't just ignore you because they know your a sore loser.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Just try not to start them. If someone is deliberately inciting your anger, try not to respond with violence but reason. Point out how they're not contributing, rather than simply insulting them.

Also, if you get tired of it, just say "I can't be bothered with this, this conversation has ended" or something along those lines. So long as you're not against a flat out troll, that will end it.

 

[Burningsok]

always keep your cool, and pay attention to the person you are arguing/debating with. learn from what they say so you can have a better understanding of what they are trying to get across. Then as best you can try to get your point across. Sometimes it doesn't work, but at least you have gained experience and knowledge that you can use in later arguments that are of similar topic.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

All flaws in arguments come from the assumptions. The assumption is the criteria you need to assume to get from the reasons they provide to support their conclusion, to the conclusion of their argument. If the assumption isn't likely or unwarranted, then the argument is flawed. Flawed assumptions and flawed arguments take the forms of fallacies. These are good to know off by heart, but there are so many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies] that it isn't worth trying to remember them all (hell, I struggle to remember the 14 that I need to know off by heart for exams), and the chances are that you won't need to know all of them when you do get into an argument. It's best to remember a key few such as:
[ul]
[li]Ad Hominem (attacking the person instead of the argument)[/li]
[li]Straw Man (attacking a slightly different, easier to attack argument)[/li]
[li]Appeal to Popularity/ Mass of Numbers (saying that something is right because it's popular/ people believe that it's right)[/li]
[li]Tu Quoque (saying that your actions are justified because someone of someone else's actions)[/li]
[li]Appeal to History/ Tradition or Appeal to Novelty (saying that something's good because it's old/ it's what we used to do or because it's new)[/li]
[/ul]
VanityGirl also made a thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.152038-How-to-Argue-a-Point-A-users-guide#3616612] a while back on the subject (more general advice than specifics like I've listed). Try reading it for a few tips which are different to my own.

Be prepared. Don't get into an argument if you don't know your facts. And never get angry, it just makes you look immature.

These are also very important points. As much advice as we give, you still need to have an idea what you're talking about, otherwise your points will be proven wrong and your argument invalid quite quickly (I've had this happen to me before, you really do look like an idiot after doing it). And getting stressed will make you more hasty in thinking, thus making your argument worse as a result, as well as making you look immature.

Numbers. Use the power of numbers and statistics, make them up if you have to (within reason). People respect anything with a %. They're also harder to argue against.

That's how to write rhetorics, not how to argue. There's a big difference. Namely that writing rhetorics is to persuade people when you don't actually have reasoning to support your conclusion, and can seem very pathetic if you're caught doing so/ called out on it.

I have an A Level in Critical Thinking so this is one area I like to think I have expertise in.

I'm currently doing an A2 in Critical Thinking, surprisingly enough.

 

[Tartarga]

I find its useful to have a pretty good understanding of what your arguing about. Having information my opponent didn't have on the subject allowed me to make a witty yet argument destroying comment which allowed me to win.

 

[Freshman]

Take a class on critical thinking. I've only lost like 3 arguments since i took that, and those have been me making some assertion that I'm really not too sure about

 

[S.R.S.]

Try to remember everything you say and if he misquoetes you or something latch on to that (I know it's vindictive but hey, it's an arguement) and nit-pick the hell out of it.

On that note most of the arguements I've won came down to me telling that he misinterpreted what I said and making him look like a complete tool.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Don't ever argue with me, I bite and leave marks.
I'm stubborn and hold grudges, so it's usually best to let me win and accept defeat.
I avoid arguing though, especially with my boyfriend, I don't want to risk losing him.

 

[DustyDrB]

I enjoyed reading this. I now try to identify the players in a flame war.

http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Win_An_Internet_Flame_War