Just curious
2006-10-28 19:32:11 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Definitely. I competed in debate for 7 years. You get stuck defending something you despise all the time. It's actually pretty interesting. You have to know both sides of any given topic to succeed.
2006-10-28 19:34:26 · answer #1 · answered by robtheman 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely.
My brother and I grew up doing this. We would debate our points of view, then switch and debate the opposite point of view. It is fascinating to do and, if one is to debate successfully, one must educate themselves fully as to the opposing view. Good opportunity for sharing, learning, growing. I highly recommend it.
Also, in grad school, the professor assigned each of us a hot topic to present. We had to present both sides and do so in a manner than no one in the class could determine our particular stand on the issue. My topic was abortion. Being firmly pro-life, this was VERY difficult for me to do, but no one knew how strongly I felt about either point of view after the presentation. Rather interesting.
I recommend this as a great thing for reasonable people.
2006-10-29 02:11:51 · answer #2 · answered by Nancy W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
About 75% of the time, I find myself trying to advance and defend whatever I feel is the most valid part of an opposing argument. It allows me to learn.
If opposing ideas do not come together meaningfully, they are doomed to be raised to the level of high-impacted crystallized religious servitude.
It's a cruel thing to do to the ideas you care most about, to make them wear a helmet all day long.
It's like taping a 'kick me' sticker to your viewpoint.
2006-10-29 07:12:11 · answer #3 · answered by roostershine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea i've done it before, kinda hard depending on how strong your opinion may be, but if you can defend the opposed side, then you can make more discrete defenses/supportive points on your side. Get both sides of the facts straight you pretty much won half the battle.
2006-10-29 01:46:25 · answer #4 · answered by Dennis 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
of course... I mean one of the key elements to an argument and effective argument is looking at what the other side is saying, anticipating it and "cutting them off at the pass"... if you don't know the other side and what they will say... you're halfway there to losing an arguement before you start...
it's essential... and also, you need to look at every side of every issue... I mean I lean to the liberal side, but that doesn't mean I'm liberal on every issue...
and playing the devils advocate can give you a much better understanding of what you actually believe about a subject...
2006-10-29 01:44:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Always, my role in student government requires a great deal of playing devil's advocate with my colleagues to make sure we cover as many possible points of opposition before we tackle an issue.
Annoying yourself and you colleagues arguing as devil's advocate in such a situation saves a lot of time in a highly charged political environment where every miniscule hole in your argument will be exploited by your real opponents.
2006-10-29 01:43:46 · answer #6 · answered by mediaptera 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I try to see the motivation behind a conflicting point of view, to try to understand it.
2006-10-29 02:23:40 · answer #7 · answered by kitty fresh & hissin' crew 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. I lost because my point of view was correct.
2006-10-29 04:33:29 · answer #8 · answered by wunderkind 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Liberals are undefendable...naw I try sometimes to look at things from other perspectives, it helps reaffirm my own beliefs
2006-10-29 01:47:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Daily. I defend criminals for a living. Easy.
Liberals? Not so easy.
2006-10-29 01:42:19 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋