How dirty debaters win against better opponents | Bo Seo

Big Think4 minutes read

The text delves into the author's insights from the 2016 presidential election debates and their subsequent victory at the World University's Debate Championships, emphasizing how debates can deteriorate into displays of dominance and shame, revealing darker sides of individuals. It identifies four common personas utilized by bad faith debaters - the dodger, twister, wrangler, and liar - each employing tactics like changing topics, misrepresenting arguments, critiquing without solutions, and spreading lies, with strategies outlined to counter these personas and the significance of challenging them early and consistently to curb their influence.

Insights

  • Debates can quickly turn into displays of dominance and humiliation, revealing the darker sides of individuals, as noted by the author's observations from the 2016 presidential election debates and the World University's Debate Championships victory.
  • Four common personas employed by bad faith debaters are outlined: dodgers, twisters, wranglers, and liars, each utilizing tactics like topic-changing, misrepresentation, lack of alternatives, and spreading falsehoods. Strategies to combat these personas involve staying on track, correcting misrepresentations, seeking alternative perspectives, and replacing lies with truths to dismantle the deceptive tactics early and consistently.

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Recent questions

  • How can bad faith debaters be identified?

    By observing personas like dodger, twister, wrangler, liar.

  • What strategies can be used to counter bad faith debaters?

    Stay on course, correct misrepresentations, ask for alternatives, replace lies with truths.

  • What are the key takeaways from the 2016 presidential election debates?

    Debates can devolve into dominance spectacles, revealing darker impulses.

  • Why is it important to challenge bad faith actors early and frequently?

    To prevent their power from growing and maintain integrity.

  • How can individuals effectively respond to misrepresentations in debates?

    By correcting misrepresentations and ensuring clarity and accuracy.

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Summary

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Debating Bad Faith: Tactics and Strategies

  • The text discusses the author's observations from the 2016 presidential election debates and their subsequent victory at the World University's Debate Championships. It highlights how debates can quickly devolve into spectacles of dominance and embarrassment, showcasing darker impulses within individuals.
  • The author identifies four common personas used by bad faith debaters: the dodger, the twister, the wrangler, and the liar. Each persona employs specific tactics such as changing the topic, misrepresenting arguments, critiquing without offering alternatives, and spreading multiple lies.
  • Strategies to counter these personas are outlined, including staying on course when faced with dodgers, correcting misrepresentations by twisters, asking for alternative viewpoints from wranglers, and replacing lies with truths to expose the broader deceptive approach of liars. The text emphasizes the importance of challenging bad faith actors early and frequently to prevent their power from growing.
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