Something I noticed about making arguments...

**NeoSioType** · 07-11-2011 09:39 PM

I noticed if you try to prove your argument by using an analogy or metaphor that deals with negative content, more than likely people will disagree with you. This does not have to do with saying negative things but simply bringing up negative ideas and feelings(poverty, murder, rape, ect.) They will even try to justify their reasoning because they don't want to give into their mistake.

So I got to thinking... maybe I could start subtlety comparing my arguments with positive things. Most people don't think critically all that well. I feel like I stumbled upon something forbidden... and something sadly well known.

**Alric** · 07-11-2011 09:44 PM

It might work in some cases, but a lot of time you probably use negative content because the thing you are arguing about is negative in some way. It is much harder to compared a bad thing to a positive idea and use that positive idea to show how the bad thing is really bad.

Also neutral of positive sounding metaphors might fall kind of flat.

**Marvo** · 07-11-2011 11:08 PM

Analogies are great. They are like cars, they are great too. Car analogies, the best.

**sloth** · 07-11-2011 11:59 PM

Analogies SUCK! Yeah! Chew on that, losers!

**Invader** · 07-12-2011 12:12 AM

If you say the word "Muslim" and "Terrorism" many times and very close together, people will eventually associate terrorism with muslims. Pretty cool huh?

Analogy is one way to do it, but all you really need to use is a word with the kind of connotation you're trying to attribute to your target word.

**cmind** · 07-12-2011 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by Invader

If you say the word "Muslim" and "Terrorism" many times and very close together, people will eventually associate terrorism with muslims. Pretty cool huh?

Interesting. I've also noticed that if you say "muslim" and "blew themselves up and killed dozens of innocent civilians" many times close together, it also creates an association. Neat.

**Solarflare** · 07-12-2011 03:55 AM

I always win arguments x3

**Meakel** · 07-14-2011 12:59 AM

It's just simple anchoring bias. Instead of basing their opinion on the actual argument at hand, our lazy subconscious latch onto "ZOMG HE SAID RAPE."

**NeoSioType** · 07-14-2011 01:34 AM

I found this quote. It's a bit similar to the idea of playing off feelings.

"We often refuse to accept an idea merely because the tone of voice in which it has been expressed is unsympathetic to us." - Friedrich Nietzsche

**Marvo** · 07-14-2011 01:37 AM

Hah.

**greenhavoc** · 07-14-2011 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by NeoSioType

So I got to thinking... maybe I could start subtlety comparing my arguments with positive things.

I tried something similar a while back where an argument was laid out between two people. Each person would then argue for their appointments point of view using as few sentences as possible. The goal was to simplify the thought process so much that only positive point/counterpoints would be left, as most negativity is bias opinion anyway, less the obvious.

It worked so well that people didn't want to argue anymore and the thread was left to ruin....and on that day not a single fuck was giving, ever again.

True story?