Comments on: A guide to empty arguments http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/ Website of Emanuel Ferm, Oxford grad student, where he blogs about ideas, observations and technology. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:10:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Russel http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/comment-page-1/#comment-1119 Russel Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:17:32 +0000 http://eferm.com/blog/?p=329#comment-1119 You offer interesting insight to the "art" of arguing. I used to believe I had to win every argument. There is nothing I wouldn't do to prove somebody wrong. What did that get me? Not much. I now have a better strategy. Appear to agree with them or as you said above, The “after rain cometh sunshine” argument. Instead of getting nasty and making the other person feel like an ignoramus, focus on some positive outcome from the situation. It feels like you are agreeing, but you really aren't. You offer interesting insight to the “art” of arguing. I used to believe I had to win every argument. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to prove somebody wrong. What did that get me? Not much. I now have a better strategy. Appear to agree with them or as you said above, The “after rain cometh sunshine” argument. Instead of getting nasty and making the other person feel like an ignoramus, focus on some positive outcome from the situation. It feels like you are agreeing, but you really aren’t.

]]> By: Emanuel http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Emanuel Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:20:40 +0000 http://eferm.com/blog/?p=329#comment-54 Ahh... excellent addition! Thanks for the comment Erik :) Ahh… excellent addition! Thanks for the comment Erik :)

]]> By: Erik http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Erik Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:14:55 +0000 http://eferm.com/blog/?p=329#comment-53 After Rain Cometh Sunshine argument (ARCS for short?) = brilliant. I'd also like to suggest the ITYSIURW-response. When you are part of a discussion you have no understanding of, and someone confronts you with the notion of giving your opinion on the subject, just look at someone that the others seem to respect and say, in a sincere tone of voice, "I Think You Summed It Up Really Well". Now you can follow up by either asking someone else to give their opinion or by making an excuse and bolting with your reputation intact. After Rain Cometh Sunshine argument (ARCS for short?) = brilliant.

I’d also like to suggest the ITYSIURW-response. When you are part of a discussion you have no understanding of, and someone confronts you with the notion of giving your opinion on the subject, just look at someone that the others seem to respect and say, in a sincere tone of voice, “I Think You Summed It Up Really Well”. Now you can follow up by either asking someone else to give their opinion or by making an excuse and bolting with your reputation intact.

]]> By: Emanuel http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Emanuel Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:07:49 +0000 http://eferm.com/blog/?p=329#comment-51 Very good suggestion there! I'm sure I have tried it without knowing so =P And thanks for the comment! Very good suggestion there! I’m sure I have tried it without knowing so =P And thanks for the comment!

]]> By: Mr. Olausson http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Mr. Olausson Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:26:56 +0000 http://eferm.com/blog/?p=329#comment-50 Ohh, and thanx again for insightful thoughts on important matters. Ohh, and thanx again for insightful thoughts on important matters.

]]> By: Mr. Olausson http://eferm.com/a-guide-to-empty-arguments/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Mr. Olausson Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:25:44 +0000 http://eferm.com/blog/?p=329#comment-49 I would like to add something that I learned while in school regarding the same topic. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are expected to ask a question e.g. after presentations or perhaps in order to seem interested, and cannot find the question that would fit (since you really haven't been listening that hard).haven't Fear no more, the ultimate question, possible to use in almost every of these situation is: "What was the most fascinating thing that you learned?" or "What would suprise me the most about your job?" etc. With some small changes to the question it can be applied to almost every occasion where you would benefit from asking a question, and the question in itself shows that you are interested and want to learn more. Tried several times, successful every time. Simple as that, use with care. I would like to add something that I learned while in school regarding the same topic.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are expected to ask a question e.g. after presentations or perhaps in order to seem interested, and cannot find the question that would fit (since you really haven’t been listening that hard).haven’t

Fear no more, the ultimate question, possible to use in almost every of these situation is:

“What was the most fascinating thing that you learned?”

or

“What would suprise me the most about your job?”

etc.

With some small changes to the question it can be applied to almost every occasion where you would benefit from asking a question, and the question in itself shows that you are interested and want to learn more. Tried several times, successful every time.

Simple as that, use with care.

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