Mature discussions or debates can and do occasionally devolve into a name-calling slug fest. Both parties trying their best to one-up their opponent. At this point, nobody wins.
You have to remain calm in a sincere debate where you’re trying to reason with someone or come to some middle ground. Immediately starting with the name calling and yelling and huffing and hawing isn’t productive. Interrupting or laughing or being sarcastic or condescending isn’t helpful either. Don’t get me started with eye rolls. If you want to learn something or be able to teach something, you have to assume your opponent also has a desire to do the same. If you start with assuming your opponent is hostile, you already begin in a defensive posture and will respond accordingly. So stay calm and assume the best. If you’re asked a question, instead of searching for a hidden meaning, treat the question like it’s a sincere attempt gain information. Answer it.
Which leads to the next issue, there has to be honesty. You have to be honest in your position and you have to honestly understand your opponents position. If you mischaracterize or distort your opponents opinion, and then argue with that, you’re arguing with strawmen. You’re being dishonest in the debate and it does nobody any good.
Recently I responded to a social media post where someone made a mischaracterization about the recent riots in Washington DC. This person claimed that “…storming the Capitol building because your candidate lost…” was illegitimate. I agree with that assessment. If you’re rioting because your candidate or team or whatever lost, you’re out of your mind. Luckily I think this person just made a simple mistake in articulating the reason, but it works well enough to make my point.
The riots didn’t occur because a particular political candidate lost. If the people rioting believed that the election was fair, there would not have been a riot. The problem is they believed the election was stolen and that the government itself was complicit in the fraud. Whether the election was stolen or not is another debate, but it’s a debate they believe they weren’t given. So, they decided to storm the Capitol and disrupt the government for a few hours.
Whether you believe that to be a legitimate reason to storm the Capitol is also debatable, but mischaracterizing the reason is certainly dishonest, although in this case it was accidental dishonestly.
If you debate me, I will assume you have the best intentions and I’d like you to assume the same about me. If I mischaracterize your position, it’s an honest mistake. If you’re a big jerk, and I start calling you names while mischaracterizing your position, well, then I’m just angry.
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and you give that to me. If we start there, then we can make progress.
In today's digital age, social media has provided a platform for people to voice their opinions and reactions to news stories and events almost instantly. Unfortunately, this has also created a culture where people jump to conclusions and make assumptions without having all the facts. This is particularly true when it comes to issues of race, where allegations of racism can quickly spread on social media and cause public outrage before all the details have been established.
The recent incident involving an 85-year-old man shooting a young black man who was allegedly trying to break into his home is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Before any information had been released about the incident, people on Twitter were actively doxing the alleged perpetrator, assuming that he was a racist who had shot the young man because of his race. However, as more details have emerged, it has become clear that the situation is much more complex than initially assumed.
It is possible that the ...
The issue of gun control in the United States is a complex and controversial topic, with advocates on both sides of the issue. While some believe that individuals have the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, others argue that the easy availability of guns contributes to the country's high rate of gun violence. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it is clear that there is a need to get guns off the streets or at least out of the hands of people who should not have them.
The United States has one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were over 43,000 incidents of gun violence in the United States in 2021, resulting in over 23,000 deaths and over 42,000 injuries. This level of gun violence is unacceptable and something needs to be done to address it.
One approach to addressing gun violence is to enact stronger gun control laws. This could include universal background checks, waiting periods, and restrictions on the sale...
Donald Trump's narcissism is well-known and widely documented. He has a deep need for attention and validation, and he often puts his own interests above those of others. This has become particularly evident in his relationship with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who could be a valuable ally for Trump.
DeSantis has been a strong supporter of Trump and his policies, and he is seen by many as a rising star in the Republican Party. He has also been praised for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, which has earned him a great deal of respect and admiration.
However, despite DeSantis's potential as an ally, Trump seems unable to let anyone else share the spotlight. He frequently criticizes DeSantis and other Republican leaders, even when they are working to advance his own agenda.
This kind of behavior is characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder, which is a mental condition that affects a person's ability to relate to others. Narcissists often have a grandiose sense of ...
