‘Winning a Debate’
I have no problem admitting that I like to get the last word in. You can call me a controlling last word freak, ok you cannot call me that because someone already did. But the reality is that in a real debate you must agree to use facts.
Because it is only with factual support that you can make a determination of the truth of whatever you are debating. All too often people use their opinion as a substitute for fact. It is a nice idea and I wish that people would accept my opinion on all matters, but it is not real.
There are few instances in which a person is considered to be an expert on a topic and in those few cases their opinion may carry more weight. But in practice debates should be limited to fact and not fiction.
The current climate in the US and in many other places around the world seems to ignore this as all too often we see very angry people blathering on about this and that and what they think should happen. That is all fine and dandy, but without fact, it generates way too much fluff.
Jack's Shack August 30, 2005 at 5:52 pm
SJ,
Can’t disagree.
Bill,
You are right, the last word can be problematic.
Bill August 30, 2005 at 5:41 pm
People are entitled to opinions but there needs to be fact as the basis for these opinions. The problem is anger has a tendency to cloud peoples view of the facts(Generating Fluff). The source of the anger is at times not always evident, especially in Blogs. Some one may have personal issues that influence their feelings on what is being debated that they can’t or won’t share while debating. That said there are times when it is appropriate to be angry, but still it is important to keep focussed on the facts and not let them skew the course of the debate. When you feel that this is happening it is best to step out of the debate. Sorry Jack getting the last word can get you in trouble, even if your right.
A Simple Jew August 30, 2005 at 5:27 pm
Interesting thoughts, Jack.
I have found that almost everything can be delegated to the realm of “opinion”. There are very few things that are truly “facts”. Usually we only say something is a “fact” because it is our opinion that it is true.
Well, thats enough philosophizing for me…