Fun little tactic I like to employ when debating/arguing with an opposing viewpoint in person

[Nwgirl503]

Make your opponent specifically explain, detail or qualify their stance. I've employed this tactic too many times to count in my adult life after learning about it on HS speech/debate team many, many years ago. Here's a really basic article explaining it:

http://lifehacker.com/win-an-argument-by-asking-your-opponent-to-explain-thei-1718890620

Fun way to seem non-threatening while you're doing this is to act like you don't know the answer either. It's satisfying for a few reasons, least of which is getting to prove that they don't know WTF they're talking about without you looking like an ass and flat-out telling them they're an idiot.

Bit of advice for employing this tactic: always stay on the offense.

[OldYallow]

1. I Enjoy Asking Then Questions They Can't Answer

One of them is "Can you name one thing Bush did a better job of than Obama?"

Also I have been known to say "If you can name on thing Republicans truly stand for that is better for my family than it is for billionaires, I will give you $20"

Never had to pay any right wing psycho/traitor once.

Probably doesn't affect their tunnel vision way of thinking because Rush said "Liberals are bad" and that is all they need to hear with their rat brains.

[kimbutgar]

3. I got my husband's right wing nephew all worked up by just asking him questions

And when I asked him questions on his statements he started screaming at me. At one point he touched his hip to make sure he had his gun. At that point I looked at him and said,"I'm done". After that I refused to discuss anything politicial with him ever again.

[pipi_k]

2. One point to remember...

is that unless it involves actual facts...like the sun rises in the east, sets in the west, etc....

IOW...if it's a matter of opinion, that person's opinion is as valid to him/her as yours is to you.

In which case, asking the person to explain or clarify could be less of a weapon than you might think, and might even be a means to understanding another person's POV.

Understanding is always good, yes?

[Nwgirl503]

5. I should have clarified that

It's when it's a fact based argument. Opinion or emotional is just like art...subjective and relative.

[uponit7771]

4. The article is so true!!!! Conservatives have an illusion of understanding

[treestar]

6. Right wingers always deflect

It is a right wing thing they master.

Right Winger: Obama was a terrible President.
DUer: What did he do?
Right Winger: He didn't do any work and played golf all the time.
DUer: Do you have any statistics that he played golf more than Bush or previous President.
Right Winger: Obama is so un-American he bowed to the Japanese Emperor.
DUer: Do you have proof he played golf more than any other President?
Right Winger: Do you have any proof Bush played golf more than Obama?
DUer: as a matter of fact, yes.
Right Winger: You libruls never know any facts, it's why you are so dumb.
DUer: Do you have any proof Obama did not work hard, especially when you said he was imposing socialism, how did he have time if he did nothing but play golf?
Right Winger: He is so weak on foreign policy, too.
DUer: What particular policy? What was weak about killing bin Laden?
Right Winger: The marines killed bin Laden, not Obama.
DUer: OK then the marines screwed up Carter's hostage rescue, it wasn't Carter.
Right Winger: You can't reason with a librul.
DUer: By the way what proof is there that Obama played golf more than any other President?
Right Winger: you libtards are so stupid.
Right Winger:

[Nwgirl503]

7. When did he play golf...

would have been my question. I wouldn't have even bothered asking about the stats between Obama and other presidents' golfing habits. That probably woulda been the IDK answer for your opponent. That's kinda what I was saying about staying on the offense.

Don't open yourself up to questions you don't have the answers to.

RW: Obama was a terrible President.
DUer: how so
RW: he didn't do any work and played golf all the time
DUer: when did he play golf?

Make them list out the times he played golf. Stay on the offense. And when they can't list the times, that's when you say....let's look it up. And that's when you can point out the discrepancies between presidential repub and dem vacay/golf times. If that's what they want to hang their hats on.