Comments on: How To Argue http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/ Skeptical Freethought Atheist Musings to Dispel Ignorance and Enlighten the Mind Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:42:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1701 Neece Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:06 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1701 HA! :D HA! :D

]]> By: Steve http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1697 Steve Fri, 01 May 2009 20:14:22 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1697 Crocoduck? And don't forget the bannana! Crocoduck? And don’t forget the bannana!

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1686 Neece Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:27:17 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1686 Like I said, I think they take a class and study this. It's maddening, and usually effective, which makes it even more maddening! Like I said, I think they take a class and study this. It’s maddening, and usually effective, which makes it even more maddening!

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1685 Neece Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:26:28 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1685 Hey Steve... Yup, those 2 questions again. I do like the bit about finding common ground first. I think that's something I've never thought about doing consciously before, but it makes so much sense. Yes, you nailed it on the head about debates. The poor and unethical techniques that supposedly every theist studies are quite effective. Obviously even the big debaters like Hitchens struggle with it. Seriously, how do you get past that? It drives me nuts. And yeah, going for the Zingy soundbite is so irritating too. Grr! Hey Steve…
Yup, those 2 questions again. I do like the bit about finding common ground first. I think that’s something I’ve never thought about doing consciously before, but it makes so much sense.
Yes, you nailed it on the head about debates. The poor and unethical techniques that supposedly every theist studies are quite effective. Obviously even the big debaters like Hitchens struggle with it. Seriously, how do you get past that? It drives me nuts.
And yeah, going for the Zingy soundbite is so irritating too. Grr!

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1684 Neece Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:21:27 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1684 Hee hee! I totally feel your pain and agree! You know what would also be cool? Teaching this to kids in school. Especially the bit about seeking truth, not just trying to prove you're right. Hee hee! I totally feel your pain and agree!
You know what would also be cool? Teaching this to kids in school. Especially the bit about seeking truth, not just trying to prove you’re right.

]]> By: Steve http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1683 Steve Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:50:05 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1683 Kent Hovind, Ray Comfort and many many others often do what Blackwell is doing here... Kent Hovind, Ray Comfort and many many others often do what Blackwell is doing here…

]]> By: Steve http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/30/how-to-argue/comment-page-1/#comment-1682 Steve Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:48:31 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1344#comment-1682 What do you mean, how do you know? Hahaha Great description of a debate, Neece! Unfortunately, with most of the debates with well known theists, the atheist usually gets creamed because the theist bounces around without defining terms, finding common ground and often ignores the response since they have a set of notes they have to work through. The atheist spends so much time trying to give reasoned response to ALL the points that there's no real time to present his or her own. Another downside is that the process you describe is hard work, and often the theist is looking for that Zing! soundbyte. You can see that in action right here where Hitchens and Blackwell are debating whether we live in a Christian country or not. Hitchens wins, but he gets so little time to present his argument: http://tinyurl.com/cs93f4 What do you mean, how do you know? Hahaha
Great description of a debate, Neece! Unfortunately, with most of the debates with well known theists, the atheist usually gets creamed because the theist bounces around without defining terms, finding common ground and often ignores the response since they have a set of notes they have to work through. The atheist spends so much time trying to give reasoned response to ALL the points that there’s no real time to present his or her own.

Another downside is that the process you describe is hard work, and often the theist is looking for that Zing! soundbyte.

You can see that in action right here where Hitchens and Blackwell are debating whether we live in a Christian country or not. Hitchens wins, but he gets so little time to present his argument:
http://tinyurl.com/cs93f4

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