How to Win a Debate and Prove a Point

The key to successful debating is recognising the innate human desire to know not just facts, but plausible stories that lead to the fact. The fact, or what you prove to be fact, can be what the hell you like, as long as you build the case, through a story, for its existence. There is symmetry here, so you can’t have one without the other, and neither should one outweigh the other. Because a debate must appear to rely on wholly credible points it is actually easy to construct a story – the debate is set within the framework of the truth. By linking the points of truth and highlighting their importance as you progress your story – implanting your point of view – you win the debate. It also helps if you believe what you’re saying, because by the time you have won the debate, you will be expected to act upon your stated position or you’ll never be taken seriously.

To counteract a masterful debater you must identify their key point and its validity then discredit it. Throw your opponent off their centre of balance just as you would in a wrestling match. Do not waste time with basic and easy scoring – aim for the guts of where they are heading. Pre-empt (you may know) what their final point will be, how they will get there, and get there first. Steal their wind, agree on their point (at least partially) and then embed it in a story. Turn that story around and lead it to disaster. If there’s an audience, entertain them.