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I hate it when people can't argue properly. Yeah I know I've never read an official Argument Handbook, but there's some tactics people use that are just plain shitty. I feel that there's a certain set of unwritten rules people should have to argue about in the arguing world (some people use "Debate" but I really see it as the same thing). And people who don't follow these rules piss me off to no end. And when I'm pissed I lose focus and clarity. I don't blame other people for my emotional instability, but I do blame them for using tactics they shouldn't be using.
1) Interupting. This is a classic. It's easy to say "Well don't have the argument then" but sometimes there's an ultimate goal that depends upon you winning this argument. I probably hate this one the most. It's why I prefer internet debating because no one can interupt you.
The classic interupter is good at what he does because it requires quick thinking and being able to spot when you're about to lose the argument. A fine example is Dr. Evil and his "Zip it" routine. Most people I know do it like this: You raise your head slightly, while looking down your nose at someone, eyebrowse raised in a faux expression of victory, and constant, sharp yellings of "AH!" to cut them off.
These people suck. It should be legal to punch someone in the face for this. Regardless of the situation, one of the universal rights every person has is to defend themselves, whether it's with a punch or with words, and this is blatantly robbing someone of that right.
2) Interrogation. This is basically answering all kinds of questions. I compare it to being hit with a flurry of stinging jabs in a boxing match. The questions are all bullshit but it puts you on the defensive. You're so busy answering questions that you can't really think clearly about your next move. Usually the questions are about specific details no one can remember, so as to poke holes in your argument by saying you can't give reliable answers. Sometimes they're more situation questions, designed to back you into a corner to turn some half-answer on its head and then pretend they've "got you". Sometimes they're just distracting questions to throw you off. Either way - shitty.
3) Run away! This one is short and sweet, but basically it involves a steady retreat when you know you've lost. It's like this: You have no points left to make, nothing left to say. You've lost. So then you say "Oh wait, I'm too, ummm, MATURE to argue, yeah!" then you walk away acting like you know something.
4) Disguise and diversion. I've known a few people who do this right, but it's hard to do. Basically, throw something out there not even remotely related to what you're talking about. This one goes along with that "Never argue with idiots" quote, because they're better at making up random bullcrap than you are. You could be arguing about gun control and abortion rights, and they'll come at you with "Well you're wrong, ya know why? Cuz there's no way Soviet Russia could possibly have lasted with their current rate of fuel consumption."
5) Ignoring. This is what people do on the internet as opposed to interupting. They pick and choose what they want out of a post and then pretend that's the whole message. They'll take every 14th word and then say "Oh look, these words, when you mix them up and decode the anagram, spell "I HATE JEWS!" LOOK HE'S A RACIST! GET HIM!" Ok, it's not that extreme, but it still sucks. I might say something like "Man I love my kids, but they piss me off sometimes" only to be met with resounding cries of "YOU JUST SAID YOU DON'T LOVE YOUR KIDS!"
6) Mind readers. This one is slightly touchy, because it concerns things people don't like to hear, such a "I'm not XYZ, but...." or "With all due respect....." Sometimes it involves an apology only to be met with "You're not sorry, you're just sorry you got caught." This is how I see it - those are a matter of intentions. It's my intentions that honestly decide whether I'm being respectful, disrespectful, racist, sexist, mean, rude, or just plain sorry. And the fact is that no one, NO ONE, can know my intentions better than me, and so the fact is I feel that the person making these statements should always be deferred to unless some greater piece of evidence can enter into the field.
For instance, if I said "I'm not racist, but I hate the music that purple skinned people listen to" that means I'm not racist, until YOU can prove otherwise. But if you now had a tape recorder of an earlier conversation where I said "Man, I am honestly racist against purples." Then you can call me a racist.;
7) Ignorance. This is when the person you're arguing with has given up on the true goal of the argument. They're no longer interested in finding facts and making points, they just want to win the argument. It usually happens once they actually agree with you, or at least see your point of view, but still pretend to have no idea what you're talking about. They're usually like "Well I don't see how that matters." even though they totally see how that matters!
That's all for now. I'll add more later. Feel free to keep the list going! Things you hate in arguments!
1) Interupting. This is a classic. It's easy to say "Well don't have the argument then" but sometimes there's an ultimate goal that depends upon you winning this argument. I probably hate this one the most. It's why I prefer internet debating because no one can interupt you.
The classic interupter is good at what he does because it requires quick thinking and being able to spot when you're about to lose the argument. A fine example is Dr. Evil and his "Zip it" routine. Most people I know do it like this: You raise your head slightly, while looking down your nose at someone, eyebrowse raised in a faux expression of victory, and constant, sharp yellings of "AH!" to cut them off.
These people suck. It should be legal to punch someone in the face for this. Regardless of the situation, one of the universal rights every person has is to defend themselves, whether it's with a punch or with words, and this is blatantly robbing someone of that right.
2) Interrogation. This is basically answering all kinds of questions. I compare it to being hit with a flurry of stinging jabs in a boxing match. The questions are all bullshit but it puts you on the defensive. You're so busy answering questions that you can't really think clearly about your next move. Usually the questions are about specific details no one can remember, so as to poke holes in your argument by saying you can't give reliable answers. Sometimes they're more situation questions, designed to back you into a corner to turn some half-answer on its head and then pretend they've "got you". Sometimes they're just distracting questions to throw you off. Either way - shitty.
3) Run away! This one is short and sweet, but basically it involves a steady retreat when you know you've lost. It's like this: You have no points left to make, nothing left to say. You've lost. So then you say "Oh wait, I'm too, ummm, MATURE to argue, yeah!" then you walk away acting like you know something.
4) Disguise and diversion. I've known a few people who do this right, but it's hard to do. Basically, throw something out there not even remotely related to what you're talking about. This one goes along with that "Never argue with idiots" quote, because they're better at making up random bullcrap than you are. You could be arguing about gun control and abortion rights, and they'll come at you with "Well you're wrong, ya know why? Cuz there's no way Soviet Russia could possibly have lasted with their current rate of fuel consumption."
5) Ignoring. This is what people do on the internet as opposed to interupting. They pick and choose what they want out of a post and then pretend that's the whole message. They'll take every 14th word and then say "Oh look, these words, when you mix them up and decode the anagram, spell "I HATE JEWS!" LOOK HE'S A RACIST! GET HIM!" Ok, it's not that extreme, but it still sucks. I might say something like "Man I love my kids, but they piss me off sometimes" only to be met with resounding cries of "YOU JUST SAID YOU DON'T LOVE YOUR KIDS!"
6) Mind readers. This one is slightly touchy, because it concerns things people don't like to hear, such a "I'm not XYZ, but...." or "With all due respect....." Sometimes it involves an apology only to be met with "You're not sorry, you're just sorry you got caught." This is how I see it - those are a matter of intentions. It's my intentions that honestly decide whether I'm being respectful, disrespectful, racist, sexist, mean, rude, or just plain sorry. And the fact is that no one, NO ONE, can know my intentions better than me, and so the fact is I feel that the person making these statements should always be deferred to unless some greater piece of evidence can enter into the field.
For instance, if I said "I'm not racist, but I hate the music that purple skinned people listen to" that means I'm not racist, until YOU can prove otherwise. But if you now had a tape recorder of an earlier conversation where I said "Man, I am honestly racist against purples." Then you can call me a racist.;
7) Ignorance. This is when the person you're arguing with has given up on the true goal of the argument. They're no longer interested in finding facts and making points, they just want to win the argument. It usually happens once they actually agree with you, or at least see your point of view, but still pretend to have no idea what you're talking about. They're usually like "Well I don't see how that matters." even though they totally see how that matters!
That's all for now. I'll add more later. Feel free to keep the list going! Things you hate in arguments!
) you forgot one. Using 'formal education' as a club. Example : Oh I studied x for 4 years at Y university, so I know this and you can't possibly be right. Ok..it all honesty any 'my background' arguments irk me. Especially when dealing with OPINIONS or things left open to interpretation.
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