When having conversations with people you disagree with:
1- If you think people are not wrong on purpose and they believe earnestly what they believe and they came to the views they have in good faith, it puts you in a mindset to be able to communicate with them in a much less confrontational way.
2- If you approach people as if somehow they are defective or evil, you are not gonna find the common ground that you need to get through them.
3- Use “Steel Man” instead of “Straw Man” approach when debating others you disagree with
“Steel Man” is:
A debate technique that involves presenting an opponent’s argument in its strongest form, even if that’s not how they presented it.
Example: Someone claims: “Money is the key to happiness.”
to Steel Man this claim: You have to think about that claim is true and argue as if you believe it’s true: “I might not agree that money is the key to happiness, but I do recognize that it can provide security, resources and opportunities for a more fulfilling life.”
So we actively engage in their argument in good faith.
“Straw Man” is:
A logical fallacy that involves creating a distorted or exaggerated version of an opposing argument and then attacking that version.
Example: Someone claims: “Money is the key to happiness.”
to Straw Man this claim: “Oh, so if money is the key to happiness, I guess you’re saying the anybody with wealth has never experience sadness or had any problems ever.”
The Straw Man diminishes the nuance and reduces it to an easily defeatable position.