just ask a question, like a shrink
“oh you think that? WHY?!”
“why did I have this thought?”
“is this the best way?”
“is this what you think? interesting tell me why…”
“do you think this idea of yours is better than y ?”
“and do you think the opposite is wrong?”
“you say this — so are you suggesting that…?”
“for this to be true that has to be true, right…?”
“do you have evidence (lol sealioning) ?”
“how do you DEFINE this?”
“how do you know?”
This is kind of a lame trick
You look curious, while passing the burden of fully expounding the idea onto someone else
Then you can easily pick holes in places where his observation, intuitive comprehension or assumptions have outrun his ability to explain
So this can be a lame rhetorical trick
But it’s not entirely stupid
Asking a good question is not easy
You have to think about what is being said
What it stands on
What would falsify that claim
What would it take for it to be true
etc
Furthermore we do have a reflex of trying to attack the statement head-on, immediately answer it, preferably refute it, definitely comment on it
A question “feels” passive in comparison (even though it can be quite sneakily aggressive)
It’s good to go against this reflex and be more thoughtful and strategic
Furthermore, in asking the questions, you get an opportunity to better understand someone’s position
Which should be fundamental
How can you address something that is not yet even defined?
Again — so often we have failed to communicate before we even started
Ask more questions, period
Shut your fucking mouth and ask more questions