The Civil Debater’s Creed
I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out.
I recognize that your perspective is different than mine. You know things that I don’t, I know things that you don’t, and there are bits of evidence that both of us have seen which we’ve interpretted differentely. And none of this necessarily implies that you are blind or ignorant, or that I am.
I recognize that you and I may live under very different moral codes, but despite that we may both be moral and decent people.
I try to listen to what you’re actually saying, and keep that seperate from different claims that other people have made which your claims remind me of.
And at all times, I think it possible (if perhaps unlikely) that I am the one who is mistaken.
[This is not meant as criticism of anyone in particular, particularly not anyone here — one of the things I love about Dean’s World is our ability to have wide-ranging passionate debates while still keeping things civil. This is merely a code I try to follow (and occassionally fall short of) which I think the world would be a better place if more people adopted.]
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11 comments
Hallelujah!
Indeed, the world would be a much better place if everybody followed these rules.
Maniakes
Sorry but I disagree.
…
There was a joke there somewhere but due to my ADHD it sailed straight out the window.
Maniakes,
I humbly must disagree as well.
And your mom dresses you funny.
Scott, that was a strong try right out of the gate, but I’m afraid Kevin has taken the lead.
I got Danica waiting for me at the finish line so I’m just a little motivated.
Nicely said.
Usually I argue just to be contrary without bothering to think anything out at all.
However I will agree with you that it is possible you are mistaken.
Dave Justus’s last blog post..Reader Questions
I usually shorten it to "just because someone disagrees with you does not make them stupid, ignorant or evil."
Phelps’s last blog post..Biased Much?
<I>I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out.</i>
I’m willing to grant sincerity in almost all cases. Unfortunately, experience has shown me that many positions are, in fact, not only not well thought out, but indeed often not thought out <I>at all</i>.
The key word is "presume". It’s a rebuttable presumption, of course, but I start out by treating you as if you’ve thought your position out properly unless and until you provide me with clear evidence to the contrary.
I may disagree with you, but I do so starting with the presumption that your position is sincere and well thought out.
I’m willing to grant sincerity in almost all cases.
Unfortunately, experience has shown me that many positions are, in fact, not only not well thought out, but indeed often not thought out at all.
(And a pox on this edit box for not defaulting to html.)
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