Any political science major will probably tell you that, maybe more than in any other field of study on campus, poli. sci. classes frequently encourage healthy debate on given issues. It makes sense, as political beliefs tend to vary in any sizable group and discussion is a hallmark of the Socratic Method. In a way, we upstart politicos view debating skills the same way someone else might view sports stats-you have your heavy-hitters, your specific field of expertise, and your key strategies to defend your position.
As nerdy as that sounds, debate isn’t reserved just for students of politics. We all will try to convey our ideas, dissuade others of ideas they hold, and defend our assertions repeatedly during the course of our lifetime. There are, however, good and bad habits for anyone to follow, whether they’re engaging in a spirited talk in person or making a stand on a discussion thread in an internet forum. To help foster a better environment for a contest of ideas, I offer the following as sort of a gentleman’s rules for productive dialogue. Mostly a result of my experiences (including me breaking some of them in the past), they won’t necessarily help you in your next Lincoln-Douglas competition, but they may be useful in everyday conversation, online or in person.
1. ALL CAPS IS NOT ALWAYS AWESOME- You might think that writing like this is a great way to drive a point home and show that you’re an energetic opponent. Actually, it just makes you look unnecessarily aggressive. In my mind’s eye, when someone writes this way to me, I imagine a person in front of me screaming in my face until their throat is hoarse, their features contorted into some expression of deep enmity. Save the capital letters for their proper place.
2. Replying by only saying “yeah right,” “whatever,” or “come on,” is to be avoided- Not only is this rude during a civil discussion, but it also shows that your probably unable to offer a satisfactory rebuttal to someone’s point. These are the crutches upon which a weak argument rests. Avoid using them in a debate with your friends. You wouldn’t like it if they talked that way to you when you explained your side, would you?
3. Nitpicking grammar to try and devalue an argument is silly- You broke this rule if you looked at the first sentence of the previous rule and said, “Aha! It’s supposed to be ‘you’re,’ not ‘your’! Therefore, anything you say is wrong!” I’m afraid my grammar trap ensnared you. Yes, you should always proofread anything you write, particularly when you’re explaining the reasons behind your position in a debate. But even Associated Press articles and academic works have the occasional typo. This, however, does not detract from any logical point being made. A mistake or two is permissible. Be polite, and challenge the writer’s assertions based on logical counterpoints to their position, rather than the medium used to convey it.
4. Direct, personal attacks are both uncalled for and childish- The moment you or the other party begin to engage in specific, personal insults, it’s a good bet that the discourse has devolved into something immature. You should both just stop, and go somewhere to calm down. While it’s very easy to get your emotions heightened in the heat of a vigorous debate, there is a level of decency that you just can’t cross. I know from experience it can be hard, but no matter how strongly you disagree with someone’s position, you should stick to logical counterpoints, not name-calling.
These are my pet peeves, but I know we all have our own. What about you? What rule can you think of to help make a disagreement more productive, and not break down into something uncomfortable or hurtful? Do you agree or disagree with mine? Well, then…let us debate the issue.