Never say things like "I'm only saying this for your own good" or "I'm only trying to make you a better person." They also say that the wage gap exists, with no evidence, but I debunked it. Last Updated: November 16, 2020 wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This is why when something becomes an issue in a relationship (any relationship) you should document it, so that you can show that it's a pattern rather than an isolated incident. You can use your body to trick your brain into being easier. This means that when your heart starts to race and your palms get all sweaty you name what is happening (you're anxious because you're afraid this argument will cause your wife to leave you, etc.). NEVER resort to name-calling or physical violence. Not that passivity is the most effective strategy but if you’re thinking about “winning” you’re already headed down the wrong path. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Be sure that you and the person you are arguing with are both getting turns to talk. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The next level of winning below that is when they may still not agree with you, but they see your side, and where you are coming from. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Try to say a lot with few words for a powerful and digestible argument. If you find yourself distracted or unclear, ask clarifying questions so that you make sure you understand their point. You could say, for example, "You said that 70% of people don't support gay marriage, but you could have said that about slavery a hundred years ago. You're not going to convince everyone and most of the time it's simply not worth your energy. It's one that nobody wins. "At the end of the day..." This phrases is basically meaningless, but it has the ability to make your opponent want to punch you in the face. Becoming defensive is one of the worst ways to win an argument. "To play devil's advocate..." People who use this phrase like to think that they're above things like listening to other people (they pretend to, but really all the want to do is impose their viewpoint [usually the devil's advocate viewpoint]) on the other person. Then set a specific time to address the problem. If your arguments rely on moral equivalence you should rethink what you're actually arguing. Don’t let your opponent sense that you’re digging into your position without being willing to … We all have. Then, you take that time to put down your reasons for feeling the way you do, give some specific examples, and provide a possible solution. http://www.wired.com/2012/12/alt-text-internet-arguments/, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140521-the-best-way-to-win-an-argument, http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2015/04/23/how-successful-people-master-conflict/, http://lifehacker.com/5811255/why-you-cant-win-an-argument-on-the-internet, http://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/resources/tips/pc-security/you-cant-win-an-argument-with-a-troll, http://lifehacker.com/5854053/how-to-stop-caring-about-trolls-and-get-on-with-your-life, http://time.com/110643/how-to-win-every-argument/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. "Whatever..." If you're trying to have an argument with someone and you or the other person keeps saying "whatever" to the points being made, you aren't engaging respectfully and need to postpone the argument to another time, or indefinitely. No one ever wins those arguments and the people who start them tend to be trolls. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The more specific the better: if you're fighting with your boss, for example, offer up specific instances of the times when he bullied you and how that made you feel (tearing you down in front of other people, calling you names, things he's said behind your back to other people, etc). If they are not able to, their status is not relevant in the argument. Any help? If the other person is attacking you in this way, call their attention towards it, or leave the argument (often the people who attack you personally are not going to be open to hearing your side of things).