When do you decided you won an argument?

[zombiejoe]

Just wondering, when you are having an argument, be it with a friend, a parent, or other person, when do you decide you have won. And yes, arguments or "fights" can really be upsetting, but when you "win", what tells you?

For me, it's when the person simply has nothing else to say. Or even better, when they just say "whatever", and nothing more. Either that, or they just agree. (lol)

But what signals to you the fight is over?

 

[Call Me Arizona]

When a person just keeps repeating the last argument they made as if repetition gives it support or when they just can't respond anymore.

 

[Strain42]

To me it depends on what the argument is. If something is a clear cut fact and I just correct someone when they make a mistake, I've won. Even if they try to argue the facts are there and it's pointless to argue.

When it's a matter of semantics I just try to keep the debate and discussion open until we both reach a point where we at least somewhat understand where the other person is coming from and if we disagree entirely, simply agree to disagree.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

When I made the most valid point I can and when they don't reply in 10 seconds.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

When a person just keeps repeating the last argument they made as if repetition gives it support or when they just can't respond anymore.

I say this and add when the person you're arguing against just starts shouting really loud so everyone else in the next room could hear them. It's like they think that by shouting the loudest means you're winning. To me it just makes you look stupid.

 

[OpticalJunction]

When the other person rolls their eyes and walks away

 

[4173]

Before it even begins.

 

[KoalaKid]

Right before the argument begins.

 

[crudus]

Never. The person I am arguing with needs to decide if I have won or not. If they just repeat themselves or use various logical fallacies, I call them out on it and wait for them to correct their mistake. Nothing changed if the debate breaks down into screaming or what have you and therefore there can be no winners. If it is a debate for the sake of debate there are no winners.

 

[sageoftruth]

I don't, and neither should they. Just because he/she doesn't have an answer at the moment doesn't mean that I'm right.

 

[Arluza]

typically when they use strawmen arguments, arguments that have been show as unfounded, or do any number of logical falsehoods that basically say "I have lost but I'm gonna act like I am gonna win still."

 

[2fish]

Just wondering, when you are having an argument, be it with a friend, a parent, or other person, when do you decide you have won. And yes, arguments or "fights" can really be upsetting, but when you "win", what tells you?

For me, it's when the person simply has nothing else to say. Or even better, when they just say "whatever", and nothing more. Either that, or they just agree. (lol)

But what signals to you the fight is over?

When I enter it

If it were a debate or some other form of communication where we compared ideas and tried to find the better choice or idea I wait until I have all the info.

In an argument I walk in knowing I am the victor.

 

[sageoftruth]

Never. The person I am arguing with needs to decide if I have won or not. If they just repeat themselves or use various logical fallacies, I call them out on it and wait for them to correct their mistake. Nothing changed if the debate breaks down into screaming or what have you and therefore there can be no winners. If it is a debate for the sake of debate there are no winners.

Wow! We just posted at the exact same time and said roughly the same thing, contrary to everyone else who has posted so far. What are the odds?

 

[Apollo45]

I typically know I've 'won' when the other person can't come up with anything else to say, and therefore either repeats what they have already said or starts pulling stuff out of their ass. My roommate does the latter; if we're arguing about something, he'll just start either making odd, random connections to other things, pulling stuff out of his ass, or resort to repeating himself. Or he'll take something I say and act like that's what he was arguing the whole time, so we were really both right. Whenever any of the above happen with him, I know I've won the argument.

With my girlfriend, it's typically when she stops arguing. She'll either go on until she's won or just stop. It helps that, most cases, her pouting is solved by a back-rub. It also helps that most arguments we have are about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, various stellar phenomenon, or other little nerd things. Although occasionally she can be really stubborn about her Star Wars lore...

With my mom, it's typically when she storms off to take a break from fighting. My dad, on the other hand... Well, I'm honestly not sure I've ever won an argument with my dad... He has a tendency to only ever argue things he's right on, and more often than not we're on the same side.

 

[Skorpyo]

When the other person...

A) Lets fly the insulting rage
B) Repeats their previous arguments
C) Loses their ability to reason
D) Looks at me with the confused, dumbfounded realization of bitter defeat.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

When the person invokes Hitler or the Nazis.

 

[ezeroast]

So long as i know i'm right i dont care about the argument, so i never realy put much into them.
I'm more than happy to let the other person think they are right so long as i know they are not.

 

[ace_of_something]

I don't arguments can rarely be won.
Debates can be.
Dialogs are the best because you'r actively working on compromise or trying to understand one another.