Tag: argument

On disagreements

Speak your mind. Don’t be afraid to disagree, but know the difference between healthy disagreement/debate and an argument. Don’t call people names or lose your temper when debating. And as you’re stating your opinion, keep one thing in mind – you’re not that smart.

You won’t always be right and you shouldn’t always have an answer to everything. It’s ok to say, “I don’t know.”

Do not cling to an opinion and be afraid to change it – keep an open mind. If you gain more information on a subject, whether by collecting it yourself or being told new info from someone else, it should either be adding to your argument or breaking it down. Either way, the balance should be shifting one way or the other.

You’re not going to win

“It’s hard to win an argument with a smart person, but it’s damn near impossible to win an argument with a stupid person.” – Bill Murray

When you’re in an argument or when you disagree with someone (especially about their opinion or in “gray” matters), how often do you ever actually say something that gets them to change their minds? It’s hard enough to convince them that you’re right using logic and facts, but when you are debating over something that doesn’t have a factually correct/incorrect answer yet and is based on speculation, you most likely aren’t going to “win” that argument.

This is why people say to not talk about sex, politics, religion, or money. Those topics are too emotionally charged. And what is right for one person may not be right for you. How they view the subject will likely be different than you, and discussing it leaves you open to having huge disagreements and arguments over something in which you won’t change their mind.

That being said, if you do get caught up in a debate, don’t take it personally. They believe what they believe and you believe what you believe. Don’t take offense to their opinion, which more often than not, have no bearing on your life. Why would you choose to get worked up over something that doesn’t actually affect you?