Understand the other person’s core claim and their argument for it. Their core claim and argument includes their beliefs about the world, and their values. It does not include their rhetoric.
Try to find a consensus on your key points of disagreement in the argument for the core claim. Key points of disagreement (“cruxes”) are the ones that, if you changed your mind on them, you’d change your mind about the core claim.
Occasionally, it might be helpful to state a version of your debate partner’s argument or claim that you think is more correct or compelling (“steelman”). However, this is risky. You might misrepresent the other person’s claims and create confusion, or create an impression that you think they’re less intelligent or informed than you are.
Be straightforward about what you think.
In terms of your tone, try to be a tolerable debate partner, without being fake-nice.
It sounds like what you’re saying is:
Understand the other person’s core claim and their argument for it. Their core claim and argument includes their beliefs about the world, and their values. It does not include their rhetoric.
Try to find a consensus on your key points of disagreement in the argument for the core claim. Key points of disagreement (“cruxes”) are the ones that, if you changed your mind on them, you’d change your mind about the core claim.
Occasionally, it might be helpful to state a version of your debate partner’s argument or claim that you think is more correct or compelling (“steelman”). However, this is risky. You might misrepresent the other person’s claims and create confusion, or create an impression that you think they’re less intelligent or informed than you are.
Be straightforward about what you think.
In terms of your tone, try to be a tolerable debate partner, without being fake-nice.