The purpose of debate is NOT to convince ones opponent, but an open-minded audience. Great quote below, and applies to anyone with objective factual argument (and logic) and support, religious or not.: I had a hard time ending discussions before I realized this simple truth. It doesnt matter who gets the last word, because when one debates in public forums, one is not generally trying to convince the guy at the other podium. It is the audience that one is trying to convince. There have been people on this board who will never let a discussion go, no matter how long it goes on or how wide it strays from the original point. And when I first got here, I often felt like abandoning the thread was tantamount to giving up. Certainly, I felt a sense of satisfaction when I did get the last word, and that was something I didnt care to give to my opponent, especially (as was often the case at times like these) when he was a jerk. Once I realized that my opponent was not my target, though, it all became much simpler. If I said my peace, and then he brought up an irrelevant point to keep things going, I could just let it happen and still feel like Id held my own. If I could look pack at the thread and see that any rational person would agree that I presented the stronger case, that was good enough.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:25:36 +0000
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