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Conversational Ju-jitsu

10:55 / 04.05.06

For a laugh I thought it would be fun to have a thread on conversational techniques, standard ones that tend to make chatting move along at a quicker pace with more interesting twists and turns. And I thought it would also be nice to look at a few conversational traps and quick ways to get around them.

First off, there’s that thing that people do when you’re trying to make a point, and their response is “Stop getting so defensive.” It’s easily one of the most annoying to come across in conversation, because whatever the conversation was about previously your opponent has attempted to reduce your stance to an ego defence, or claimed that the act of defending your position isn’t worthwhile, or polarised the debate so that they’ve made it clear that they believe that you believe you’re under attack.

So, quick ways around this… preferably a one-liner so that you can cut it dead and move on quickly. Any ideas?

11:01 / 04.05.06

Thank you for that Seth. that was quite interesting. In fact.

11:27 / 04.05.06

Thanks for that, Ian, that was pretty oblique.

12:11 / 04.05.06

Stop being so aggressive works.

All Acting Regiment

12:21 / 04.05.06

"No mate, there's nothing wrong with saying what you think, it's refusing to accept that you don't know everything- I do it, you do it, we all do it, and it doesn't get anyone anywhere" seemed to work quite well the other week, in a conversation about immigration.

12:23 / 04.05.06

"Are you perceiving our discussion in terms of attack and defence, then? How come?"

All Acting Regiment

12:25 / 04.05.06

"Are you perceiving our discussion in terms of attack and defence, then? How come?"

Ahem, WINNERS

12:31 / 04.05.06

Who knows what twists and turns lurk in the brains of men? The elephant-headed one knows!

13:03 / 04.05.06

Sho RYU ken

sibyline, beating Qalyn to a Q

13:15 / 04.05.06

Well, I don't get defensive so I have no idea what the hell you're talking about.

14:06 / 04.05.06

"I know you are, you said you are, but what am i?"
"You're being defensive"
"I know you are, you said you are, but what am i?"
"Now you're just being childish"
"I know you are, you said you are, but what am I?"

Never fails.
Often has surprising effects, depending on the playground experiences of the receiver of this, the ultimate comeback.

20:34 / 07.05.06

Don't argue with an idiot, they'll only bring you down to their level, and then beat you with experience.