Often, and this can be clearly illustrated by the example of politicians, the victory in the dispute is won not by one who has more weighty arguments, but by one who simply knows how to competently conduct a discussion. If your point of view is important to you, learn to defend it.
Instruction manual
one
Paradoxical as it sounds, one of the easiest ways to win an argument is to listen carefully to your opponent. Try to understand the point of view of the person with whom you entered into an argument. Look for the points at which you could agree with him. It’s much easier to convince another of something when you show that you could be on “one side of the barricades”. In addition, clearly understanding how the opponent thinks, from what premises comes from his constructions, it will be much easier for you to find effective arguments accessible to his understanding.
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Do not let the argument go in particular, do not get distracted from the main thing. Easily yield to secondary positions, not letting you drag you into a debate over trifles. Inexperienced arguers always think that they should be right in all respects, but this is far from the case. An experienced opponent can confuse an opponent with strong argumentation with just some completely insignificant trifle.
3
Ask as many questions as possible. You already know your point of view, just as what it is based on, study in more detail what the opposite side knows. If the debater expresses an opinion, find out what it is based on, if it operates with facts, ask questions regarding their sources and context. Perhaps your adversary is confining, and you will understand exactly where the weak points in his argument are. Or you will learn something new from his story that will allow you to reinforce your ideas.
4
If you suspect that where you are heading might have a dispute over a specific set of issues, prepare in advance. Gather as much information as possible on the subject under discussion, statistical, factual and logical arguments. Imagine how a dispute can develop - what they can tell you and what you can object to.
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Behave correctly. If your adversary becomes personal or insulting, don’t be like him, just turn off the argument. Do not allow yourself to discuss the opponent’s personality, not his argument.
6
Keep track of your voice and movements. A person turning to a scream and waving his arms does not look either confident or authoritative. He speaks clearly, firmly, but not monotonously, changing the pace and timbre of his voice, using expressive hand gestures, emphasizing the most important arguments. Pay attention to influential politicians - perhaps they don’t always know thoroughly what they are talking about when they talk about science, for example, but they influence public opinion, primarily impressing people who are competent, collected, calm and calm, and not nervously fidgeting or flaring up like unbalanced types of gunpowder.
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Understand that it is important for you to convince the audience that you are right in this dispute, or to incline your opponent to your point of view. Calculate your argument based on your goal. If your goal is to convince a group of people, appeal more to the emotions and values of the audience. Even sober-minded and rational people obey the laws of sociology. If you want, first of all, to make the interlocutor agree with you, adhere to formal logic and refer to the position and argumentation of the opponent.
Related article
Basic Dispute Rules