The Right Way and the Wrong Way of Presenting an Argument…
So many people lack the ability to argue their points of view in a way that makes them sound halfway smart. I’ve noticed this lately in a lot of people. Let me explain…
If I read an article or someone else’s opinion about something, and I disagree with it, I will take the time to look up the subject and make sure I know what I’m talking about before making an argument against the point. Just doing this saves you a lot of humiliation in the event that they actually decide to look into your argument and prove YOU wrong. Researching a subject isn’t just going to Wikipedia and taking your “facts” from just that one source – it’s going to 2-3 different websites, magazines, books, etc…and then making judgements about the subject based on the differing sides presented.
When I post an opinion about something online, I welcome any and all who want to challenge it. And, that goes for anybody – if you don’t agree with a certain post of mine, by all means, argue it and I will post your side of it for all to see, even though I don’t agree. However, this only goes for those of you who make a respectable argument. Let me make myself a bit more clear…
Let’s say I posted an opinion that read:
“I love people who hunt because they kill animals and who needs animals anyway?! Animals are just a waste of space!”
Ok, now…let’s say you disagreed with this post because you believe hunting is cruelty to animals.
Here’s the WRONG way to respond:
“I hate stupid people who can’t keep their mouths shut and think they’re god’s gift to everything.”
Here’s the RIGHT way to respond:
“It’s been proven that hunting animals increases the dangers of extinction for some species. Also, animals can feel pain, and shooting an animal hurts them just as much as if you were to shoot a human, and I believe it’s wrong and should be stopped.”
Now, which one do you think would get more respect? Certainly not example #1. And, I find it strikingly funny that when I ask for a real argument, no one has the skills to present one. Whether it’s a lack of education and not paying attention during that day of English class, or they just don’t give a damn, one will never know I suppose. But, if it’s because they don’t give a damn, that’s sad…really sad. People need to learn how to stand up for themselves in other ways than simply using insulting remarks and sentences towards the person they disagree with. Getting all huffy and puffy about something and then not being able to come up with anything better than “just shut up” is not acceptable and never will be.
Posted on June 26, 2009, in Regular Posts and tagged Argue, Argument, blog, Post, Skills. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
Referring to your example, you would first have to start with an educated first statement before asking for an educated response. “I love people who hunt because they kill animals and who needs animals anyway?!” is merely an opinion. The responder is entitled to make a judgement on said opinion and give their own opinion about the former. No facts needed for either part. However when a claim is made that “Animals are just a waste of space!” certain facts are needed to back it up. The argument ends with the itinial two sentences based on your own statement of wanting facts to back it up. Until you show multiple sources that animals are indeed a waste of space, anyone who would want an educated argument would avoid this statement like the plauge. Instead they would chalk it up to the person not having “the skills to present” a valid argument.
Your example does not support your argument. It just makes you look like all the others that “lack the ability to argue their points of view in a way that makes them sound halfway smart.”