Talk About It! discussion

Discuss debate, rhetoric, etc. here. What's the purpose of it? What's it about necessarily?

It's because you're wrong and I have to prove it. Hang on, scrap that, it's because everyone else is wrong!

Ahahaha!!

Wait, come to think of It, that's what my English teachers have always taught me: beat people over the head with your opinion and it's convincing! Repetition is key!!!!

Anyway, on a more serious note. I have always been taught that debate is about convincing others of your opinion, and generally, that's right. However, I would disagree with the widely taught idea (in my schooling experience) that one should exploit every possible way--even the most insidious techniques, like the aforementioned repetition (not that repetition is insidious, but nor should it be used as if it adds any weight to a position)-- to persuade other people. I think debate exists to find the right answers. It's not to uphold an image of confidence by desperately clinging to your opinion, it's to put two or more opinions to test and tease out the most reasonable conclusion. Similarly, one shouldn't be convincing because they use a certain number of ways to convince, but because they find the best answers. Rather than believing, it should be about understanding.

Those are my thoughts, anyway.

I agree. I think the only way to find truths is to challange beleifs. Looking at things from a different angle is a great way to move forward.

. Rather than believing, it should be about understanding.

I agree with that Jocelyn!
I get a bit annoyed with people who will not drop there opinion when it is obviously wrong or a "bad" one.

I don't think you should cling to your opinion if someone presents a coherent and convincing argument that completely obliterates your own.
It's happened to me multiple times and I find graciously accepting the fact you were wrong goes over much better.

Not doing so generally takes the discussion from debate to just plain argument. A debate is where you pit facts against eachother and discuss the connotations of those facts. Arguing is when you state your opinion and stick by it no matter what facts are presented.

The purpose of debate and rhetoric is to provide people with another type of propaganda. To provide a strong argument, you must include all three of the following:
Ethos- Appeal to credibility
Pathos- Appeal to emotion
Logos- Appeal to logistics