Forum Post: Follow these rules for successful online debate....

So in dealing with trolls, and radicals (I define radical here as anyone who has an irrational belief not backed up by facts that support it,) successful debate is achieved by following these simple rules:

1. Always quote a source for any information you give out.
2. Never get into a flame war (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_(Internet))
3. Learn to recognise logical fallacies and point them out to users of them. Many online users don't even realise that they are using logical fallacies - a list of the most common follow: 3a. The strawman fallacy - The most used fallacy by internet attackers, the strawman fallacy expands on one specific point of an argument and counters it to "defeat" the entire argument. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man 3b. Appeal to authority - This is also a commonly used fallacy in online debates. The basic premise goes like this: Person A said X. Person A is in a position of authority. Therefore X must be true. This is clearly a fallacy because any authority could be lying (this goes back to sourcing your materials.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_Authority

3c. Statistical Fallacy or Misuse of Statistics:

Beware the statistical proof. Many statistics can be deliberately misleading in order to represent what the poster of statistics wants to convey. For example: 90% of users are happy with this website (hidden small print: based on a poll of 20 users.) It's easy to see how statistics can be misrepresented, when a website could be used by tens of thousands of people and the website creators only poll 20 (possibly of the most active members to further skew the statistical flaw.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_fallacy

A full list of debate fallacies can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies

Oh, and remember 3d: Attacking the source. Typical example would be someone posting in this thread "lol, using wikipedia as a source" but not actually countering my source with another source.

1. Always question users intentions. Often you can get into an argument with online users without getting to the core of their disagreement with you. Try to pick apart their arguments by questioning everything they post. Demand sources. Demand they tell you why they think what they do. If pressed to do the same thing, do it! You're not here to "win" you're here to learn. Which leads me to point 5...

2. Don't be ashamed of being wrong. Being proved wrong in a debate is nothing to be ashamed of. Admit it. It means you've learned something new. Add this new knowledge to your arsenal and use it in future debates. Absolutely DON'T reject information just because you haven't heard it before, it scares you, or you don't understand it. Examine all information impartially.

3. Don't let anger get in the way.

If someone has posted something that makes you angry, don't immediately post a response. The chances are you will make yourself look worse, even if beforehand you were carrying the weight of the argument and the correct opinion. Take some time to cool off and dissect the post, before following the above rules.

Finally...

1. Don't ever gloat.

If you emerge strongly from a debate, don't deride the people you've argued with. It will encourage them to ignore the information you've presented to them, and further isolate them from your cause.

Follow these rules and be successful in online debates (and face-to-face ones.)

Feel free to add your own debate tips to this thread.

Peace and love,

Mim.