ruthlessimon wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2019 12:39 am
Euler wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 10:01 pm
I often found myself in arguments where I know I was right but the other side just couldn't find it in themselves to see my viewpoint or understand it. So when you see that, you realise that sometimes it's just not worth the energy any more.
Problem is, when it comes to stuff like politics that mentality backfires
I dunno, when positions are so entrenched then it's only worth debating if it's going to be mentally stimulating for the participants or the audience. A good debate should be like fencing or a chess game, and a handshake at the end. There's no joy to be had if someone isn't going to argue properly and just spouts soundbites. These days debating is about digging out differences when it's real function should be to find common ground, it's not really about 'winning' because as we all know neither end of the bell curve holds the answers.
There's a new series of Across the Red Line on R4, where people with opposing views are mediated by a conflict resolution expert. This week "Are referendums good for democracy". Much more interesting than yet another so called debate and explores the relative importance of the process vs the outcome.
That said, I hear ITV have got a lie detector machine going spare, if Question Time bought it then it might get interesting.