How Debating Works

[Vlerchan]

This is not as much a debate as a discussion. I just think it's more suited to here.

So, the question is, what do you think is the best approach to debating? I have seen multiple approaches since I joined this board so I imagine there's going to be some amount of disagreement.

[Microcosm]

Debating in a forum is generally pretty organized in itself if it is done correctly. So, this is a good question to address. I think the main thing you have to remember is that, when someone makes a good or undeniable point, you shouldn't just assume that they're wrong.

[Ridonks_CB]

Make sure you know your information...If you are arguing against something you know nothing about, or your "knowledge" was obtained from Fox News, that won't work out too well for your side of the debate.

[Uranus]

(1) Always have a good foundation.
If you are going to debate, always have a strong and reliable foundation for each and every statement that you will make. A poorly built foundation, will result(More than likely) in your statement falling to pieces, due to a lack of detail and proof.

(2) Use proper grammar and spelling.
If your audience doesn't understand your point, your statement will be misunderstood, and your statement will once again, be destroyed. It will also be very helpful for you because it will show that you have put time and effort into making your point, compared to someone who just "Wings It".

(3) Be Respectful
If someone else makes a fair point, yet you disagree with it, don't just assume, or go about saying they are wrong. That shows a lack of maturity, and someone who you don't want to waste your time on debating with. Accusations (With a poor foundation) can result in arguments which will derail your debate, and you will go completely off topic and not solve anything.

(4) Use Common Sense
I don't even need to describe why this is a must.

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These are just a few things that I use whenever I debate. Some of you may disagree, but that's how it is.

[Ridonks_CB]

(1) Always have a good foundation.
If you are going to debate, always have a strong and reliable foundation for each and every statement that you will make. A poorly built foundation, will result(More than likely) in your statement falling to pieces, due to a lack of detail and proof.

(2) Use proper grammar and spelling.
If your audience doesn't understand your point, your statement will be misunderstood, and your statement will once again, be destroyed. It will also be very helpful for you because it will show that you have put time and effort into making your point, compared to someone who just "Wings It".

(3) Be Respectful
If someone else makes a fair point, yet you disagree with it, don't just assume, or go about saying they are wrong. That shows a lack of maturity, and someone who you don't want to waste your time on debating with. Accusations (With a poor foundation) can result in arguments which will derail your debate, and you will go completely off topic and not solve anything.

(4) Use Common Sense
I don't even need to describe why this is a must.

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These are just a few things that I use whenever I debate. Some of you may disagree, but that's how it is.

These are vital to take into account when debating; I don't see why anyone would want to disagree...Good points made

[Uniquemind]

Knowing how to explain complex topics, break them down, and then use concepts and analogies that can get your point across.

If you're too intellectual when you debate, you fail to convey to your audience that you have a strong argument, you can fail points 1 and 3 that you just made.

[phuckphace]

I'm more of a polemicist than anything (but you knew that)

I have my opinions which I'd like to believe are based in fact, but I'm not particularly concerned with articulating them in a totally-convincing-to-everyone sort of way - my view is that since 99% of debates are simply an exchange of personal opinions, with neither party walking away convinced by the other - they might as well be treated as such.

that's also why I like to weave humor into almost all "debates", even those on otherwise serious topics. Internet arguments are just that - arguments - so we might as well laugh while we're arguing, right?

[James Dean]

Understand your topic, understand your topic, understand your topic. Whether you are Affirmative or Negative about it. Look up debate terms to further educate yourself.

Probably know the right time to refute or cause rebuttal for certain statements and views. People are allowed to have their opinions.

I'd probably say there are many topics in which there are no right or wrong answers to. Once both parties agree to this, debating becomes slightly easier.

I would have to say that if one party is obviously giving lackluster opinions or support towrads an issue, that the other side doesn't degrade or berate the other person, as if in defeat.

There is a difference between debating, and just downright disrespectfulness. You can debate without hurting the other persons character and feelings.

If all else fails, just say I don't know much about that particular topic to debate and actually give logical points to. Rather than going into it anyways, only to be sucked into something you can't get out of like quicksand.

[lyhom]

honestly the most important thing for me is to know at least a damn thing about the shit you're talking about

also depends on where you are but as phuckphace said in places like these where it's a bunch of teenagers over a screen bitching at each other about the same three topics every month at least have some humour

also don't be afraid to admit you're wrong, it's better to do that than be the douchebag who derails a topic trying to salvage the 0.0001% of their argument that's correct

[Bleid]

I believe it depends on your intention. There are traditionally two intentions that are behind those who argue. One intention is to determine fact from fiction. The other intention is a bit more sophistical; to appear correct, even if you might not actually be.

If the goal is to determine what is true and what is not:

Use our formal study of arguments that we've been developing for the last couple of thousand years. There are very rigorous ways to determine whether or not an argument holds an actual, well-reasoned, logical form that would make its conclusion likely (or guaranteed).

Some forms that an argument can take on are necessarily valid, and other forms are not. So if your argument holds a valid form, you're already a step closer to your point being demonstrated to be the case than anyone else.

Example of a necessarily valid argument form:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modus_ponens

Example of a necessarily invalid argument form:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirming_the_consequent

There are three types of reasoning, traditionally:

Deduction - Going from a set of premises to a guaranteed conclusion.
Induction - Going from a set of premises to a likely conclusion.
Abduction - Going from a conclusion to a set of likely premises.

There are times and places where one outdoes the other or one of the others isn't possible, and so there are times when one ought be used over another.

If the goal is to convince others that you are correct:

Use rhetoric and sophistry in order to confuse the innocent that your point is correct, even if might not be. This is not always mischievous, because sometimes you might need to employ more persuasion than cold reasoning in your arguments since, even if you're correct, your opponent and any observers may still not want to believe you.

If everyone was completely logically-minded, rhetoric and sophistry wouldn't be necessary, but this is a world of various kinds of people and personalities, so both of these techniques can potentially be used for good ends.

[Vlerchan]

Full disclosure, I was asked to design a thread for debating tips, and decided once finished I would create this thread to get a broader opinion to include as a note to it. I say thanks to the people who posted.

I'm also still open to people adding more suggestions to this thread, in light of finding it has an actual purpose.

[Bleid]

With that in mind, I was going to go to the old Tips and Techniques for Debating (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23512) and start remarking on the parts that promoted poor form. Then I saw that you've already replaced it, thankfully.

I'm glad for the change. Oddly enough, only a couple months ago I considered making a thread in this section just to criticize that thread and see if anyone would come to its defense. Things in that thread such as,

Mostly length is key. You should type somewhat lengthy paragraphs because when you do you can a mostly assure yourself that you explained your point. Sometimes that is not true but in most cases it is.
&
If you don't have statistical facts or you have never experienced something yourself then do not bother to argue about it.

bothered me greatly, for the reason that they're effectively promoting Proof by Intimidation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_by_intimidation) and Anecdotal Evidence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence) as though they are considered acceptable, and I was happy to see you did not include them in your updated version.

Arguing at length from my several years of experience leads to issues where it's either who can talk the most or whose paragraph on the particular thread is the largest. Constructive results usually do not come from this, since it becomes a game of tedious writing or speaking to ensure you've addressed all the micro-points of your opponent's massive solar system of text. The original argument typically gets lost in the process, too.

Arguing from personal experience is generalization, and wouldn't even be considered inductive reasoning due to how small the sample is.

[Vlerchan]

[...] bothered me greatly, for the reason that they're effectively promoting Proof by Intimidation and Anecdotal Evidence as though they are considered acceptable, and I was happy to see you did not include them in your updated version.
I agree. Both of those points bothered me in particular.

You're also free to criticise elements of what I wrote - point out bothersome points. I don't imagine I'm able to change at this stage but it would be useful for alternate points of view to exist here.