Issuepedia:Arguing

Unlike other reference projects, Issuepedia welcomes personal opinion.

However, opinions without good arguments behind them will probably be shredded or at least questioned. Attempts to undermine other debaters by use of logical fallacies and other rhetorical deceptions will be called out.

Guidelines

• Be clear about what you're trying to claim; vague implications reek of attempted manipulation, however well-intended it may be.
• If a fact is in contention, you will need a good argument to support your take on it.

When arguing against something someone else has said:

• DON'T simply claim that the source is unreliable.
• DON'T attack the other debater's credibility (expertise, credentials, personal habits).
• DO address the substance of the argument you are disputing.
• DO find other sources which have more accurate information.
• DO offer arguments for why the matter in question cannot be true.
• DO offer corrected information (not "that number is wrong" but "my understanding is the correct number is...").
• DO offer arguments to support what you think is correct.