Winning an argument - group project meme

I am working on a graph and I need help. I am wanting to look at the ability to win arguments and I have my own theories. The more intelligent you are perceived to be - the more likely you are to win an argument … that’s the hypothesis I’m working on.

If I drink copious amounts of booze, I know everything AND can speak in 100s of foreign languages (covered in this thesis). But what about when you’re not drunk - what are your tips to win an argument?

Using words and phrases from the plooptionary will certainly give you the illusion of cleverness as will memorising and dropping in the following bon mottes:

I think that needs more imagination
Look at it this way
By default
Vis-a-vis
Let me put it this way

I’ve also flummoxed people in arguments by dropping in the odd bit of latin - QED, ie …

Of course you could simply hit someone or, a real coup de grace, suggest the argument line someone is following is, “like the kind of thing Saddam Hussein would have sanctioned!”

So let’s get to the bottom of this - how do you win an argument and what are your secret weapons if an argument is not going your way?

I’m going to throw this open and I’d be very keen to know what your own readers have got to say about it. So come on - captainsmack.blogspot.com, chinglishness.blogspot.com, moredoubts.wordpress.com, lordlikely.blogspot.com, ragbox.blogspot.com, stealthybean.blogspot.com, ominouscomma.com, jellyjules.com, zeesspace.blogspot.com, windrix.wordpress.com, ponder.us/james, politicalgrind.com, godzillachai.blogspot.com/index…., instigatorblog, The Pisstakers, humor blogs, problogger, doshdosh, johann the dog, and fuelmyblog

If you could write about it on your blog and leave a trackback to this post, that would rock. If people could also tag it as ‘Winning an argument meme’ for technorati that would be super too. Frankly, if a productivity meme can set the blogosphere alight then ‘How to win an argument’ whould set it on fire!

I will, of course, link ot all people writing about ‘winning an argument’ - you can email me at ploop at plooptionary.com if you’re doing something on it!

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This entry was written by ploop and posted on May 16, 2007 at 9:21 am and filed under ploop thinking, ploop contributors, Winning an argument. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

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14 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

I’m happy to join this meme with my own thoughts on the topic:

“How to Win an Argument With Your Cat” at

http://selfhelpforcats.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/how-to-win-an-argument-with-your-cat/

Thanks, Ploopers!

1. Bad Apple on June 27th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
a fine addition to the meme from the ominous comma here http://redirect.alexa.com/redirect?www.plooptionary.com/archives/274

2. ploop on May 22nd, 2007 at 8:03 am
There’s a terrific new addition to the meme from the good people at Chinglishness - see here http://redirect.alexa.com/redirect?www.plooptionary.com/archives/273

3. ploop on May 21st, 2007 at 11:14 am
Mr. Ploop - after much careful consideration, I have completed my studies on this issue, and present them before the world in my wonderful journals.

I do hope they meet with your approval.

4. Lord Likely on May 19th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Hi Ploop,
My diagram is up! Check it out…

5. Beenzzz on May 17th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
OK ploop…mine is up.

6. J on May 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I accept your challenge, but be careful not to dispute my findings. It would very embarrassing to lose a debate about winning an argument.

And I don’t need anymore embarrassment right now.

7. Brent on May 17th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Well as I would say - bark them into submission; as Mom would say - talk them into submission. Most of the time they just give up. But it will be interesting to explore further, I’ll have her give it a go!

9. Johann on May 16th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I never lose arguments. Probably because I argue after booze consumption and maybe I engage in fistacuffs.

10. Beenzzz on May 16th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Hello mates. I can’t get my head around the new technology right now so I thought I’d make a plain comment. If there’s one thing I know its arguing.

How about saying “Oh…………right” in a deadpan voice - this will make the person spouting Latin instantly feel like an utter twat.

Like this:
Me: You have ALWAYS been a complete LOSER and I don’t care if I never see you again

Opponent: accusare nemo se debit, nisi coram Deo

Me: Oh…………right

11. Dolores on May 16th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Captain - you are a winner … if you could be arsed to tag it “winning an argument meme” and ‘pass it on’ to you readers I’d be grateful. If you can’t be fagged - no problem and I’ll look forward to your views non-the-less. If your comments even approach the supremecy of your How to Start a Religion post - I can’t wait.

12. ploop on May 16th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
This is very interesting, Ploop, a great idea. I’ll start working on it, and it’ll probably be the subject of my next post.

13. Captain Smack on May 16th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I don’t believe that for a minute J! you never lose arguments surely

14. ploop on May 16th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
I usually lose arguments, but I’ll work on this one anyway.

15. J on May 16th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

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By Thinking About… » Winning an Argument Meme on May 17, 2007 at 11:42 am

[…] astute and hilarious Ploop has come up with a group meme, in which we discuss our methods of winning arguments, and link to his post. If you haven’t […]

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