أفضل 10 نصائح للحصول على الفوز وسيطة Top 10 Tips For Winning An Argument

We all love to argue (as is evidenced by the comments on some of the
topics on Listverse) but oftentimes an argument ends in a yelling match
with insults flying and no conclusion being drawn. Therefore, I have
put together this list of tips to help all of us in our future debates –
on the site and off. If you take heed of all of my suggestions here,
you will be in a much stronger position in future arguments. If you
find this list useful, I also recommend you read the book How
to Argue & Win Every Time, by Gerry Spence.10Soft and Steady





When debating you should never raise your voice. You should remain
calm at all times. The louder you talk, the louder your opponent talks –
and the end result is a yelling match. And of course, it goes without
saying that you should definitely not resort to violence. You can even
try to talk quieter than normal – as this can draw people in to you and
it can make you appear wise. An argument is not won by the person with
the loudest voice, it is won by the person with the most compelling
arguments.
9Get Your Opponent On Your Side





It is a good idea to try to get your opponent on your side by making
statements that you know he agrees with – this puts you in the strong
position in the debate. You don’t even need to use a fact relating to
your debate – you could, for example, in a debate about the existence of
God state “I am sure you agree with me when I say that petrol is
overpriced”. As soon as your opponent agrees, you have won a
psychological battle. You are no longer the opponent – you are a
comrade. This technique is so effective it is used by telemarketers all
the time.8Don’t Attack





It is not a good idea to blatantly tell your opponent that he is
wrong – instead you should show that he is wrong through good
counter-arguments. Telling a person they are wrong merely annoys them
and does nothing for your argument as (at least until you can prove it),
it is a subjective comment. Be humble in the debate and show good will
– not only will it make you look good if you win, it will show that you
are a worthy opponent even if you lose.7Don’t Play Dirty





Never resort to name calling – even if your opponent does. You must
attack your opponent’s argument – not their person. As soon as you
begin to criticize your opponent, it becomes obvious that you have run
out of ways to defend your view. These types of insults (ad hominem)
are a sure way to lose a debate. You should be pleased if your opponent
resorts to this feeble attempt to escape the real debate as it means
you are close to victory.6Define The Fundamentals





When arguing, both parties need to agree on fundamental “truths” to
begin with – if you don’t, there can be no debate. What is the point of
arguing that the Bible was written by God, when your opponent doesn’t
even believe in God? First you should debate the existence of God. If
you both agree that He exists, you can then debate the smaller points.
If your opponent convinces you that God can not exist, there is little
point in arguing about the authorship of the Bible. This is the
structure seen in the Summa
Theologica by Saint Thomas Aquinas – he starts with the basic
points, presents arguments and counter-arguments, and moves on when each
point is “proven” by logic.




5Stick to the Subject





When a person is beginning to lose an argument, it is quite common to
see them try to divert the topic at hand to another – thereby hoping
you will not notice their weakness and will get entangled in a whole
debate. When this happens, don’t fall for it. Return to the original
topic immediately. Do not give any time to other topics (no matter how
tempting it may be) until you have completed the first.4Ask Questions





This is the “socratic method”. When your opponent states a “fact” –
probe deeper in to the fact with questions that are designed to expose
its flaws – these are usually “tell me more” type questions: “can you
give me an example?”, “Another way of looking at this is …, does this
seem reasonable?”. These questions will invariably lead your opponent
to the truth – and if they are honest, they will concede. Unfortunately
this is not always the case – I have seen frustrated people depart the
debate in anger because they believe you are “trying to trick” them. But
don’t worry – this is a win if it happens.3Be Silent





After making a strong argument, let your opponent do all the talking –
especially if he lacks the facts to oppose you. He will bluster and
fumble – giving you a variety of weapons with which to attack him.
This may not lead to him conceding defeat – but it may lead to him
walking away from the debate – a clear victory for you. Many an
argument has been won by not arguing at all! As an aside, this is an
excellent method for getting your own way – make your request, and when
it is declined remain silent. This usually makes the other person so
nervous (as no one likes silence) that they may give in just to get out
of an uncomfortable situation.2Know Your Facts





Do not state that something is “true” unless you absolutely know it
is – be prepared to prove it if necessary. It is incredibly annoying to
debate a topic with a person who is simply making up their argument on
the fly. You wouldn’t like it if people did it to you – so don’t do it
to others. Only engage in a debate that you know you can win based on
facts.1Know When You’re Beat





If you have all the facts to back you up, you should be able to win
your argument if your opponent is honest. But there will always be times
when your opponent gets the better of you and they corner you. When
this happens, be a gentleman and concede the win. You should always be
graceful in defeat. Nothing is worse than a person who argues simply
for the sake of it and absolutely will not give in – no matter how
obvious their loss.