(1/26/11)
On Indefinite Hiatus. Please leave for now.
(12/6/09)
Shutting Up and Shutting Down
Saturday, January 3, 2009When I was in college, I realized that I have lost my faith in competitive debating. Which was, perhaps, why I decided to leave my team, just as fast as I got in, and avoided confrontational arguments ever since, whenever I can. I am drifting away from the arrogance brought by being right all the time.
I hated the fact that people will accept my arguments just because no one can refute them. I hated the tendency of people only wanting the truth that they want to hear. I hated the fact that some people will resort to debates not to broaden their perspective, but to find someone else to think FOR them. I have no respect for people who, instead of attacking the situation, attacks the technicality of how it was said, if not attacking the person himself. I condemn all forms of senseless blabbering just for the sake of being “correct.” I despise people who contradict everything just to show off how smart they are. I hated the way that debates are turned into sports, where the object is to win, defeating the purpose of why debating was formed in the first place.
So I will not argue about politicians and religion where people do not need evidence, or where people do not want evidence. I will not argue over things that I consider petty or will not improve my way of life regardless of who wins. Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute. I will just smile at them. I myself find it hard to persuade a man who does not disagree, but smiles.
Now, I only argue for one reason, and that is for the pursuit of the “truth.” I would hear people out before I speak. I will only speak if there is a need to, and not just to show off. I will not decorate my language. I will only say what is needed, in its barest form.
I will only argue with a person who thinks, and thinks twice, before speaking. I will only give my opinion to someone who needs it. I will not waste my energy on an idiot.
If I find something questionnable, then I will not argue, I will only ask questions.
Sometimes, it is better to be courteous than to be right. So if I need to argue, then I will do it calmly, for I have learned that fierceness makes error a fault and truth, discourtesy.
I will think before I speak. I will be responsible for anything that comes out of my mouth. I will exercise tact at all times– the art of making a point, without making enemies.
I will defend what I believe in to the best of my capacity, but I will know when to shut up. If I am convinced that my opponent is right, then I will gladly concede for I know that we have arrived one step closer to the truth, by helping each other see, with each other’s eyes. I may have been proven wrong, but neither of us lost to the other.
Let one’s integrity serve as its own proof. Anything less is futile.
Previous Comments
I lovest this blog!
*joma takes hat off to you*
Posted by joma at January 5, 2009, 10:51 amhaha i love debates pa naman, i always watch frankahan @ ANC. one good thing about debates, though, is that you get to see both sides of the picture, yun nga lang, they will only say what people want to hear.
Posted by michael at January 6, 2009, 2:08 am@redjellyace:
hear hear 
@joma:
thanks!
@michael:
i like debates too, as long as you don’t forget the purpose of why that debate is happening in the first place.
If I find something questionnable, then I will not argue, I will only ask questions
What if ayaw nila/sya sagutin ang tanong?
Btw, ang ganda ng post mo boss. Panalo:D
Posted by diyeyms at June 7, 2009, 3:35 pm@diyeyms:
Silence is one of the hardes arguments to refute. How can you argue with someone who does not disagree, but smiles?
Thanks!Mabuhay ang pinoy underground!
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..because you can disagree without being disagreeable. I particularly like this:
“So I will not argue about politicians and religion where people do not need evidence, or where people do not want evidence.”
Yeah, you can’t play Messiah to a world that does not need or want saving.
Posted by redjellyace at January 4, 2009, 3:02 pm