Ask for an explanation
If you want to win an argument, simply ask the person trying to convince you of something to explain how it would work.
Odds are they have not done the work required to hold an opinion. If they can explain why they are correct and how things would work, you’ll learn something. If they can’t you’ll soften their views, perhaps nudging them ever so softly toward your views.
1.12K
3.65K reads
CURATED FROM
IDEAS CURATED BY
Problem solver. Award-winning reader. Devoted food geek. Certified travel evangelist. Incurable explorer.
The idea is part of this collection:
Learn more about problemsolving with this collection
Conducting market research
Analyzing data to make informed decisions
Developing a product roadmap
Related collections
Similar ideas to Ask for an explanation
How to Win an Argument
If you want to win an argument, simply ask the person trying to convince you of something to explain how it would work.
Chances are they have not done the work required to hold an opinion. If they can explain why they are correct and how things would work, you'll learn something...
Offer or Ask for Help:
Everyone likes to feel like they’re an expert on something. Even if you know a lot about the subject you end up talking about, ask the person to explain things to you. For example,
if a news event comes up, say “...
To Painstakingly Form An Idea And Then Cold-bloodedly Kill It.
The work required to have an opinion is the hard part, that’s why people avoid it.
You have to do the reading.
You have to talk to competent people and understand their arguments.
You have to think about the key variables and how they...
Read & Learn
20x Faster
without
deepstash
with
deepstash
with
deepstash
Personalized microlearning
—
100+ Learning Journeys
—
Access to 200,000+ ideas
—
Access to the mobile app
—
Unlimited idea saving
—
—
Unlimited history
—
—
Unlimited listening to ideas
—
—
Downloading & offline access
—
—
Supercharge your mind with one idea per day
Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.
I agree to receive email updates