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A Small Update
Camo7 has made a point that I would like to clarify. The "Argument" that I'm speaking of in the first section of this blog is civilized argument between peers, also known as "Debate". However, the "Argument" that I'm speaking of in the final portion of this article is heated, angry argument, also known as "Flaming". Debate is a very good mental exercise, and should be practiced often to help strengthen your logic and knowledge. Now on to the article.
~Skipp
I enjoy the PMC chat, I really do. But there are some times when I will be online and some users will get in an argument, and every time I end up shaking my head and shutting up until they rage quit and I can have some (relative) peace again. Every time I debate sitting down and writing a tutorial on how to properly argue, but I always talk myself out of it until the next time it happens. Well, I finally got sick of bad arguments, and so here's that tutorial.
How to Argue ~ A Guide to Not Sounding like an Ignorant Fool
Why does it matter that you can form a good argument? It's a sign of maturity. Many people stop listening (and by listening I mean paying honest attention) to a person at the first sign of a bad argument. If you're actually trying to convince someone of your position (which is what argument is for), then that's probably not the best thing. So, there are several things a person needs if they want to form a legitimate argument.
The first is logic. Without logic, an argument has no foundation, and if an argument has no foundation, it falls apart from the very beginning. Now there's something to understand about logic: Not everyone has it. It's not a natural gift. Now I know what you're thinking at this point, and so I'm just going to go ahead and say it.
Not everyone should argue.
Call me elitist, call me prejudiced, call me racist, nothing will break that truth. The good news is, logic can be learned, at least to an extent. But that's another topic for another day. For the moment I'm going to assume that if you're still reading this, you probably have logic.
If you do, the second thing that you will need is supporting facts. This is the second place where an argument can fall apart. Supporting facts answer the statement: "I disagree, and here's why." It's not just enough to disagree with someone, you have to explain your reasoning. Arguments with a lack of support end up simply being childish "nuh uh, no it's not" arguments. Showing your support for an argument, not just presenting your ideas, is a fantastic way to convey maturity and sensibility in an argument, whether wrong or right.
The last thing you absolutely need when you're arguing is, wait for it, respect. Who would have thought?? As with anything, respect contributes a lot in the department of maturity. Not only will respecting others with your argument help your argument to gain credence, but it will also help you gain the respect of others. This means refraining from disagreeing with a person just because you think they're wrong, or bashing someone else's opinions without legitimate grounds on which to do so.
Now that I've explained that, there's one thing I want to say in closing. Never argue for the sake of arguing. It's not what argument is for. Argument is for the purpose of genuinely seeking to find the right answer to a dilemma, not to butt heads over a controversial issue. Argument, like physical violence, should always be used as a last-resort measure.
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