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Anatomy of an internet argument
There are two debaters, Alice and Bob. Alice takes the podium, makes her argument. Then Bob takes her place, but before he can present his counter-argument, he must summarize Alice’s argument to her satisfaction—a demonstration of respect and good faith. Only when Alice agrees that Bob has got it right is he permitted to proceed with his own argume
... See moreAlan Jacobs • How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds
“The problem is that so many people spend so much time online that they fail to remember that people are all human at the end of the day, and treating someone else with a modicum of respect is actually a far better way to get them to see your position than flinging at them with fire and vitriol.” — Carl Benjamin
Be very careful with the moral high ground. It helps to resolve conflict when you realize that everyone has different moral codes, and very few people intentionally make immoral decisions. Chase Jarvis once told me: “Everyone wants to see themselves as a good person.” No matter how egregious the crime, the criminal usually has a reason for viewing
... See moreTimothy Ferriss • Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World
Here he learned another important practical truth: You do not change people’s opinions by defeating them with logic. People do not feel obliged to agree just because they cannot reply at the moment.
Herbert A. Simon • Models of My Life
In thoughtful disagreement, your goal is not to convince the other party that you are right—it is to find out which view is true and decide what to do about it. In thoughtful disagreement, both parties are motivated by the genuine fear of missing important perspectives. Exchanges in which you really see what the other person is seeing and they real... See more
Ray Dalio • Principles: Life and Work
There has to be a willingness to tolerate counterarguments, hopefully in such a way that you can truly understand and summarize the other side’s arguments at least as well as they can. And then, after all that, still have the conviction to separate yourself from the herd.