JoshuaZ comments on The Hostile Arguer - LessWrong
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Comments (76)
I'm not sure I agree with this advice. First, interacting with the hostile arguer can make one more clear on why one actually believes what one believes - one just shouldn't have your expected goal in that context of actuallying convincing them. Second, many people are not true hostile arguers in the sense that their complete goal really is to be a hostile arguer, but rather people have a mixed set of intended goals. Third, arguing with hostile arguers in front of bystanders can convince bystanders who are leaning on the fence, or are considering similar ideas. Fourth, in many cases (such as the parental example) the hostile arguer has an emotional connection to one and so making the argument may be successful in helping keep an emotional bridge that may be burned if one simply refused to discuss it.