Good evening, friends, let me tell you some Secrets on how to argue like (and with) assholes. I’m writing this because I keep running into a particular asshole, and I need to stop engaging with them, and so this is an instruction sheet for myself as well as you guys.
First, try to avoid assholes; they don’t deserve your time and energy. But, if an Argument is unavoidable, here are a few tips on how to emerge unscathed.
Let go of the idea that you’re going to win.
You’re not gonna win. Nobody wins in an argument with an asshole. But, on the other hand, you can make them lose. You can deprive them of their entertainment and their triumph.
How???
Do not present your side of this debate.
This is so counter-intuitive for most of us who believe in things like, oh, science, or real facts, or the idea that real facts can be determined by science. Here’s a cool terrible thing about humans: certainty has nothing to do with facts. And when people are certain, that is when they become assholes.
When someone’s only goal is to win an argument, any real evidence or facts you give them is just ammunition for them to turn against you.
You will not convince them. So what should you be doing?
Destroy their arguments.
This is a thing of joy, because it’s what assholes are used to doing. They are, at heart, morons who don’t know how to construct, only how to destroy.
I used to be super emotional about arguments like this. I couldn’t think of anything to say while the other person ranted on about their horrifying bigotry. Now I’m a lawyer, and I’ve learned to weaponize my essentially nitpicky nature. For money.
So here are some easy tactics you can remember and deploy:
- Make them define the words they use. Nitpick the definitions.
- Turn questions back on them. If they ask you “why do you believe x”, ask them why they believe y. If they pull some “I asked first” shit, ask them why they’re afraid to defend their beliefs.
- Call them emotional. If possible, pick out specific emotions. This is especially devastating when you’re debating a man, as he will get more emotional as a result.
- “Why is that funny? I don’t get it.” Making people explain mean jokes can be a delight; they just wilt the more you question them about the underlying assumptions.
- Laugh at any especially dumb shit. Like they use some slogan or catchphrase that’s obviously untrue, due to science, or essentially ridiculous, like “we’ve made America great again,” and you just blurt out laughing. If they get mad, tell them – oh, so sorry, I’ll shut up, I’m giving you the floor to talk about your beliefs. I’m respecting you. This is a goddamn power move. It gives you the high ground, and also the implied control over the situation. The floor belongs to you, but you are yielding it to someone because you can.
- If they make an awkward exit, let them. Especially if they call the discussion “political.” It means they’re feeling attacked. Graciously allow them to retreat with their tail between their legs. If they storm off, allow them to do that too. Congratulations; you’ve ended the argument and you don’t have to deal with it anymore.
Basically: hand the asshole a shovel, and let ‘em dig. Relieve yourself of the burden to convince them they are wrong, and just sour their fun instead.
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Additionally, these are the tactics that assholes use, consciously or subconsciously, all the time. Recognize them. Once you know what they are, you can become immune to the intimidation and belittling tactics.
Rejecting the notion that denouncing the Trump administration’s
immigrant detention centers as “concentration camps” does harm to the
memory of the Holocaust, 200 Jewish people demonstrated at a facility in
New Jersey Sunday evening and demanded the release of the thousands of
immigrants in U.S. custody.
Grassroots group Never Again Action
called for all detention centers to be closed and for the U.S.
government to protect asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants—instead
of sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into communities
where the agency has arrested hundreds so far this year in raids.
The group reported that 36 participants were arrested for blocking
the road to the Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
“I have to do whatever is in my power to disrupt ICE, to close these
camps, to provide permanent protection, and to ensure that ‘never again’
means never again,”
Oscar Wilde was a very popular man for the majority of his life; he had some famous works. Some of the most famous among them is the play The Importance of Being Earnest and the novel The Picture of Dorian Grey. He was a large figure in the aestheticism movement, which had a philosophy of “art for art’s sake,” and enjoying things for the beauty of them, not believing that art had to have a deeper meaning to be considered good. Wilde embraced this philosophy in his entire life. His style was extravagant, and his home was much too luxurious for his budget, but with his wife’s wealth and the money from his writing, they managed. True to this philosophy, he tended to say things because they sounded clever and not because they were true. This led to an extensive list of incredible quotes, but also led to problems in more official matters, such as the trials he was subjected to later in life.
Serious. The protests brought Hong Kong to the brink of a recession so that’s likely why Lam conceded.
Mod TZ
The chief executive did not concede to protesters’ other demands, which include an independent inquiry into police behaviour, amnesty to those arrested, and democratic reforms to give Hong Kong residents universal suffrage.
From the same link as above. They had five demands. One was conceded. Three are listed above. The fifth was the resignation of Carrie Lam.Â
Four people are dead. Thousands more were injured. You can see their pictures and videos. At least one woman was permanently blinded. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Hong Kong residents have a criminal record now because of their involvement in these protests.Â
I’m glad the protesters got something. This was a hard won concession that involved a lot of sacrifice on the part of the protesters.Â
