A Simple Technique for Successfully Debating the Ignorant

By Daniel Miessler on September 3rd, 2009: Tagged as Debate | Politics | Religion

debate

What follows is my new method of addressing someone who doesn’t create sound arguments during a debate, i.e. those backed by fact, data, or some type of objective evidence. Once you suspect that you’re arguing with someone like this, directly probe to see if they have any evidence whatsoever to support themselves.

If they can’t offer any–and especially if they look genuinely confused by your request–respond with something like this:

Well, if you are someone who holds beliefs without regard for actual evidence then I have no interest in continuing this conversation. Basically, if facts don’t sway your beliefs, then there’s no reason I should believe I will be successful either.

This approach will yield one of two responses:

  1. a renewed interest in listening to your evidence
  2. an angry retreat back to his/her beliefs, with no offer of evidence

Either way, you benefit. You either get to have a real conversation or you get to save energy for someone worthy of one. ::

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View Comments

  • ..that dismisses the unknown knowns.

    and embracess, to a fault, the known knowns.

    And is completely oblivious of the known unknowns.

    Apologies to the former SoS :)
  • hesaidsomething
    a lot of science starts as theory and belief that something may be true, having not yet been proven. and then they set out to do so. but not everyone is capable of testing their theories and getting stats to back up what could in fact be true. i understand your point, but it is fallible to believe a belief not based on facts is true. you may be believe your significant other is faithful. unfortunately not all that is true about our universe can be proven just yet.
  • I am aware of the fact that I should have been using he/she instead of "them". Consider my use of the latter an act of rebellion. He/she is simply too cumbersome. I suppose I could standardize on "he", but that has its own set of problems. Grrr.
  • CarlM
    I strongly dislike "he/she" and I find "s/he" absurd. Neither is used in spoken English, so I see no reason to use either in written English. ANyway, I use neither. I say "he or she". However, the use of "they" (or "them" or "their") is gaining acceptance.
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