Do you play devils advocate

[GracieMae]

When you debate?

[Michele]

Yep sometimes. I learn more that way. It makes me research what I'm saying even moreso then if I am debating something I am already familiar with.

[kingclick]

When you debate?
No. I think playing devils advocate undermines the debate.

I try my best to debate the debate. Some times I will just "explain" a point of view that is different from mine. But that isn't playing devils advocate. That is just giving information to the debate.

[GracieMae]

I am just beginning to at times. I normally take my debating serious (too serious at times) and I need to lighten up some ;)

[Echo2]

No. I only debate things I feel strongly about.

I do however sometimes like to poke the cage when the other person is being nasty and ignorant. I know I should ignoe the iddiots but it's fun to watch them dance.

Dance little puppet.

[Demona]

Occasionally, and not to make trouble. I'll normally say if I'm doing it.

I find it useful to bring to the fore difficult questions, even if they imply answers which go against my overall feelings on the subject. Other situation I'll use it in is if I'm not quite decided and I want to provoke answers that might help me make up my mind.

[Shannonigans]

I try not to play devil's advocate. I suck at debating most of the time, although I think I'm getting better. So it's just easier for me to try to stick to my own guns.

I'm going to start a spin-off of this so beware!

:D

[Mabel]

I guess I do - not to stir trouble or trick people...I do it because I can usually see 4 or 5 sides to every debate, so if one point isn't brought up, I might bring it up even if it isn't the opinion I agree with, kwim?

[Niles]

All the time. Debating is an intellectual excercise for me, much like chess, it comes from being on the "debate team" through High School, and much of college. What I personally thought about the matter is quite beside the point, my job is to make the most convincing argument I can, with as much evidence to back up my side as possible. I don't have the time it takes to study to be a "good" debator anymore, so I find it fun, and challenging to debate things that have no "right or wrong" answer (except in people's heads). Most of the time I will argue towards were my personal leaning are, but I have often just jumped into a debate because one side seems horribly under-represented, and I think it makes me more well rounded to see all sides of an issue.

I am a horrible debater about things I actually feel passionately about, because I can't be objective, so I don't debate those things very often. I think too much emotion, detracks from a persons ablitity to just debate the merits of their stance, and that is what generally gets people in trouble, and what causes feelings.

I don't do this to play with people, and I know there are some people that ONLY debate those things they feel passionately about, so if it gets to the point, that I think it is really going to bother them, I try to back off. That is what humor is for.

I can tell you that if I am involved in a debate, unless I say otherwise odds are I can see (like Mabel) 5 or 6 different "right" answers. I live in shades of gray, and rarely see the world in black or white. With most things my view is "whatever works for you", which is kind of a lame side in a debate, IMO, so I try to "pick a side" and debate it the best I can. I do try to be consistant, but I am not always.

Whether I actually believe what I write in a debate is beside the point, and if you want to know, you can generally find out in the "support forums" . :)

[kokopelli]

SOmetimes, sorta. I can never argue a position l completely disagree with. However, if there's a gray area, I have no problem with bringing up objections, prefacing them with "some might say" or "one might argue" or something similar.