Wednesday, February 07, 2018
Bad, better, best
A discussion at some website wandered off into the subject of steelmanning, the opposite of strawmanning. I hadn't heard the word before, but it's nothing new.
Bad salesmen and bad teachers always insult the opponent, assuming that his favorite product or theory is RACIST FASCIST SEXIST HOMOPHOBE. This guarantees total and permanent opposition.
Better salesmen and teachers have always tried to work against an honest and positive version of the opponent's argument. This doesn't create an enemy, but it doesn't change minds either.
In plain fact argument doesn't work. A two-sided exchange of words and sentences never persuades. Improving or cleaning up your debating technique is wasted energy.
The BEST salesmen and teachers don't argue at all. They set up a situation where the opponent can EXPERIENCE REALITY DIRECTLY. Test drive, lab session, practicum. If you have confidence that your product or explanation or theory is superior, you should let the opponent pick it up, handle it, try it.
If you can't set up such a situation, it means your product is NOT superior or your explanation is NOT correct. You should learn something from the failure.
Labels: Experiential education
¶ 7:31 AM
