Arguing is a real art. The truth is born in it, the mental and cultural level of the interlocutor becomes clear. You can spend a couple of hours enjoying a heated debate. However, in order to really clarify the points of interest to you, and not quarrel to smithereens with your opponent, argue correctly.
Respect for the opponent
Carried away by an argument, do not forget that your goal is to get to the bottom of the truth, and not humiliate the interlocutor. Do not get personal, do not allow yourself impartial statements about the mental abilities of your friend. You should not enter into an argument with a deliberately wrong opinion and defend your point of view solely in order to humiliate the interlocutor. If you are a skillful speaker and deftly manipulate arguments, you will probably succeed, but doing so will badly affect your reputation.
Accuracy of the wording
Make sure that both you and your opponent know the meanings of the terms you are using. Otherwise, by the end of the evening, you may find yourself arguing for a few hours, even though your opinions coincide.
If you do not understand the opponent's statements, do not hesitate to ask him to rephrase in other words.
I know that I know nothing
It is impossible to know everything. Even an erudite person who has reached unprecedented heights in his profession may not know some information that does not concern him. A nuclear physicist is able to get confused in the chronology of Tsvetaeva's works, and a brilliant musician can forget how chemical reactions are written. If in a conversation with an opponent you find that you have begun to "float" in the topic, honestly admit it and direct the dispute in a different direction. Or browse the Internet for information you are interested in to continue the conversation that captivated you.
There is no need to argue about what you absolutely do not understand. As a result, it will come to the surface, and you will make yourself a fool.
Sly adversary
It is quite easy to play with words, especially if the interlocutor is good-natured and somewhat naive. If you come across a clever opponent, you yourself may not notice how he will turn your words inside out, and in the end he will be right and you will not. Pay close attention to the reasoning of your opponent, and if you notice that he begins to interpret what you said incorrectly, do not hesitate to correct him.
Victories and defeats
You finished arguing, and now it became clear whose opinion was correct, who won and who lost. If you turned out to be right, do not rush to rejoice violently and in every possible way demonstrate superiority over the interlocutor - that would be wrong. You'd better thank him for the discussion, say that his hypothesis was quite interesting (if this is not rude flattery). If you lose, do not be offended and do not show dissatisfaction, but admit that you have taken out new information from the dispute.
