Discuss Ideas, Not People

Discuss IdeasDiagramSteps 1–4Steps 5–8Related Pages6 Groups of Topics10 Skills & Topics

How To Discuss Ideas Instead of People

Discuss ideas, not people. This page lists a hierarchy of approaches to discussing Ideas with people. The lower levels should be avoided.

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

  • Read and discover the best diagrams and maps of how people control and manipulate you.

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Discuss Ideas: Diagram of 8 Levels of Quality for Communication

  • Information on the five thinking positions (the way to gain perspective).

How to discuss ideas and not people.

  • Read and discover the best diagrams and maps of how people control and manipulate you.

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Discuss Ideas: Diagram Explained

  • This diagram is a useful guide for having discussions.
  • The diagram is hierarchical; this means the best strategy is at the top, and the worst is at the bottom.
  • You can use it to know when a discussion has gone bad and it is time to leave it.
  • You can use it to encourage yourself and others to have productive discussions.
  • The lower levels dominate the Internet.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step One

  • Intending to learn is the highest mental state you can bring to a discussion.
  • Intending to learn can disarm those who seek conflict to increase their pride.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Two

  • Focusing on a general idea helps to keep the discussion interesting and useful.
  • Challenging the opposite or other person’s general idea must be done correctly.
  • Challenge and refute by providing reasons why the general idea is flawed.
  • Challenge and refute by providing evidence (results if you have them) as to why the general idea is flawed.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Three

  • Focusing on a part of a general idea can only work if there is an agreement to focus on that part.
  • Challenging the part of the general idea needs to be done correctly.
  • Challenge and refute by explaining why some of the general idea is flawed.
  • Challenge and refute by providing evidence (results if you have them) why some part of the general idea is flawed.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Four

  • Sometimes, the best way to refute one idea is to propose a better idea.
  • However, better ideas require more reasons and various proofs than objections to the same idea.
  • Better ideas require lots of proof, evidence, and reasons.
  • If possible, provide a comparison of results using statistics.
  • Anecdotal evidence is interesting, but it fails to prove anything.
  • Read and discover the best diagrams and maps of how people control and manipulate you.

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Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Five

  • This is the last level of hope for a productive conversation.
  • It would help to redirect the conversation to one of the higher levels.
  • This level does not have to be negative but cannot be productive.
  • Expecting that an idea will be better does not make it better.
  • Providing anecdotal evidence proves nothing. Learn to use statistics for comparisons.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Six

  • Attacking the idea’s form, style, or tone is not to attack the idea at all.
  • This is not a productive or helpful practice.
  • This is usually insulting and done to boost the pride of the attacking person.
  • Often, scoffers and mockers stoop to this level using sarcasm or crude humor.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Seven

  • Attacking a person’s authority, character, history, and traits completely avoids the issue of the idea’s value.
  • The messenger is not the message.
  • Pretend you do not know the idea’s source and face it on its own merits.
  • Disvaluing the messenger does not disvalue the message.

Discuss Ideas: Diagram Developed: Step Eight

  • Attaching a person using insults and name-calling is emotional abuse.

  • This is violence and should not be tolerated.
  • Leave such conversations if at all possible.
  • Never respond in kind because, to these silly people, that proves they were right.
  • This is an ego game, and there are only winners and losers.

Discuss Ideas

3D: Daily Dose: 2020

#Idea #Not: 2020-08-18
  1. The idea about the idea is not the idea.
  2. The explanation of the idea is not the idea.
  3. The discussion about the idea is not the idea.
  4. The comparison of the idea with other ideas is not the idea.
  5. The college course, lecture, and textbook on the idea is not the idea.
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Discuss Ideas: Related Pages

  1. Communication: Memes Teach How to Communicate
  2. Communication Skills: Free Help
  3. Difficult People: How to Handle
  4. Don’t Argue Reality
  5. Ego Maintains Fights
  6. Empathic to Narcissistic: 5 Styles Using 5TP
  7. “I” Statements for Less Conflict
  8. “I” Statements: Advanced Version
  9. Messenger & Message Problem
  10. Passive to Aggressive: 5 Styles Using 5TP
  11. Relational Styles: 25 Based on 5 Thinking Positions
  • Read to discover maps and diagrams about how people use and abuse you.

Book cover for Games Ego Plays

  • Read and master the life skill of acceptance using the best combination of CBT, REBT, & Stoicism.

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Discuss Ideas: 6 Groups of Topics Menu

  • Read and master the life skill of acceptance using the best combination of CBT, REBT, & Stoicism.

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  • Read and discover the world’s best breathing exercise for your feelings and stress.

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  • Read and discover the best diagrams and maps of how people control and manipulate you.

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Discuss Ideas: 9 Skills & Topics Menu

  • Read and master the life skill of acceptance using the best combination of CBT, REBT, & Stoicism.

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  • Read and discover the world’s best breathing exercise for your feelings and stress.

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  • Read and discover the best diagrams and maps of how people control and manipulate you.

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