Is it better to win a debate or to be right?

[casadei]

I sometimes watch a lot of those "woke liberal gets owned" debates in my free time. As cringe as they can be, they've actually given me a new perspective.

You'll probably notice that the so called opponent is raising valid points and generally has the stronger position. But because the other side is a much more skilled debater, they usually win, despite offering little to no substance themselves.

I think a lot of people on average are like this. They're making valid points in theory, but they're simply just not very good debaters so they end up losing the argument.

This makes me question: which is more important to you? Being right, or winning the debate?

 

[casadei]

I think it's obviously better to have equally developed skills in both fields but if I really had to choose I would just rather be a better debater

 

[Deleted Member 80538]

Be right

 

[milkjar]

better to win, we live in a world of theatrics

 

[Xyn]

no I don't really want to win a debate in that term of sense, it would be good if my words changed the mind of my opponent. debate has to have a point, change in persons lives

 

[Genetics]

If you're right you'll automatically win, at least in the eyes of people who don't reason with their emotions.

 

[casadei]

Be right

Valid

I think I would lose my mind if I knew I had the right ideas but no way to properly express them

 

[jestermax]

I sometimes watch a lot of those "woke liberal gets owned" debates in my free time. As cringe as they can be, they've actually given me a new perspective.

You'll probably notice that the so called opponent is raising valid points and generally has the stronger position. But because the other side is a much more skilled debater, they usually win, despite offering little to no substance themselves.

I think a lot of people on average are like this. They're making valid points in theory, but they're simply just not very good debaters so they end up losing the argument.

This makes me question: which is more important to you? Being right, or winning the debate?

if your going up against a foid they always make themselves believe they won

 

[Deleted Member 72600]

Winning ofc, you aren't ever 100% sure of something. I mean if all of reality's just some dream(solipsism kind) then there's no point in being right about something which you've made up yourself. Winning a debate however is somewhat more gamey than that, so u get xp. And think of it this way, it's kinda like beating/finding an error in an AI bot that you have contributed to making.

 

[casadei]

If you're right you'll automatically win, at least in the eyes of people who don't reason with their emotions.

Ehh, not necessarily

Plenty of bad arguments sound good to the untrained ear when presented properly. This is how skilled debaters can make even the weakest positions sound strong

 

[Deleted Member 81037]

there is no such thing as being right

 

[Genetics]

Ehh, not necessarily

Plenty of bad arguments sound good to the untrained ear when presented properly. This is how skilled debaters can make even the weakest positions sound strong

Yeah, which will have the masses convinced. Although that's only really useful in politics where the average person has a vote. Within other sectors it's irrelevant what the average person thinks because power rules.

 

[casadei]

there is no such thing as being right

In that case, there is no such thing as being wrong either; making debates meaningless.

You know what I meant bro

We can at least recognize when some ideas line up with logic and evidence and when others don't, being "right" in this context really only means being slightly closer to reality than the alternatives

 

[casadei]

Winning ofc, you aren't ever 100% sure of something. I mean if all of reality's just some dream(solipsism kind) then there's no point in being right about something which you've made up yourself. Winning a debate however is somewhat more gamey than that, so u get xp. And think of it this way, it's kinda like beating/finding an error in an AI bot that you have contributed to making.

True, I enjoy the little dopamine points I get out of winning an obscure debate online

 

[Deleted Member 81037]

In that case, there is no such thing as being wrong either; making debates meaningless.

You know what I meant bro

We can at least recognize when some ideas line up with logic and evidence and when others don't, being "right" in this context really only means being slightly closer to reality than the alternatives

ultimately, there is no such thing as being right, while winning a debate is a tangible concept

 

[casadei]

ultimately, there is no such thing as being right

You're ultimately ignoring the fact that some answers solve problems while others don't. That is what "right" means in this context