What can you add to the list of things I've learned about persuasive techniques at this site?

Question

Background:
When I was in college, I dealt with people who listened carefully to both sides of an argument. The substance of the presentation was more important than the style of presentation. That was where I learned how to persuade people

This Site:
On this site, I'ved learned to adopt tactics tuned to an entirely different audience:

- Most people won't read more than a few lines of your argument.

- If you try to assert something contrary to surface appearances, you are unlikely to succeed

- A short snappy put-down is more convincing than a carefully reasoned argument

- Group affiliation (or ethnicity) trumps reason. Most people support their own kind, right or wrong.

After participating on this site, I've come to understand exactly why politicians "dumb-down" their arguments. Careful reasoning doesn't seem to have much to do with how decisions are made here.

What have you learned form your questions and answers on this site?

To "The One"

I don't expect people to be any different here than other places, nor did I say I would.

I have learned almost nothing from answers received on this site, per se, but I have learned a great deal about persuasive techniques. This site is particularly useful for getting feedback on various means of persuasion.

Two other things I've learned about persuasive techniques:
- People will use the slightest excuse to assign an "agenda" to your statements, no matter how hard you try to be neutral. Everyone wants to view statements in terms of conflict.

- People would rather believe a pleasant fantasy than face-up to hard facts, particularly when those hard facts diminish them in some way.

Answer 1

every votes counts including my own
i can vote myself
answer comes only by chance, not many realy seek what to answer, so i may need to ask a same question a several times
extending question almost have no value ,
not many high quality answer in here, but it is where the fun part

Answer 2

Learnt form Q/A ....Not much.....People are the same the world over , some stupid some funny , some clever ,some not ,some think ,most don't,some sane some not
people are just people

Any successful knowledgeable sales staff will tell you style (presentation )will win over substance every time ....pork pies to Jews for instance

May I ask a question of you ...why do you think things here would be any different than anywhere else in the open world

Answer 3

take things with a grain of salt - don't take things personally - be honest - say thank you to those that took the time to answer your question - have fun!