These are not mine, and full credit goes to the folks over at PF. I thought it might be useful for our more argumentative ones to keep in mind.


1. Everybody uses reason, nobody suspends it. And using reason doesn't make you automatically right. Its a method not magic.

2. If you engage another person in a debate, it means you are interested in the topic. This is the only reason not OK for quitting.

3. People come from different cultural backgrounds. Self-evident for you, a huge leap for others. And not necessarily forward.

4. If you want to convince others, first you have to find out what exactly they believe to be true. Leave strawmen alone.

5. There is room for contradicting opinions on facts, but not for contradicting facts. Researching helps to resolve it.

6. The facts you present and the conclusions you draw from them are not the same thing. Don't hide behind them.

7. It is always possible that you are wrong and your opponent is right, no matter how unlikely. Keep this in mind.

8. Your opponent might use wrong arguments without knowing. You too by the way. Don't assume bad intentions automatically.

9. Disagreement with you is not automatically disagreement with the things you think you are representing.

10. The burden of proof falls on every person making a claim. Also you. Even if "everybody knows its true". No exceptions.

11. Stay on course. If you change the topic and "win", it doesn't mean you are right about the original question.