wedrifid comments on The annoyingness of New Atheists: declaring God Dead makes you a Complete Monster? - Less Wrong

-7 Post author: Raw_Power 17 January 2011 01:13AM

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Comment author: wedrifid 17 January 2011 04:48:02PM 0 points [-]

I don't even remember how that pain felt, but I know it was great, and I want to avoid inflicting it to potential newbies. Ways of avoiding this, is what I am asking for.

People are very seldom persuaded by argument at the best of times and when they do not feel respected they will not even consider the reasoning much less be swayed by it. (Occasional exception - shame when public opinion is swayed will prompt an identity shift.) One of the best ways to become more persuasive is to release contempt and frustration with people. Then you can go ahead and 'act as if' the people you are talking to are smart, reasonable people who react well to new ideas. They may just take that as a cue.