Martin, many years ago I was heavily influenced by an anecdote that was told about the 1860 Oxford Evolution Debate around The Origin of The Species. It is pretty famous in establishing that theory in the minds of people and giving it validity

It has also been cited in other debates as far as I am aware

The story goes that one participant, Bishop Samual Wilberforce, asked another, Thomas Huxley, whether he thought he was descended from apes though his grandfather or grandmother.

Reportedly, this is when he lost the debate. By getting personal and abandoning the question, he sent a clear signal his viewpoint had no validity. By deploying a personal attack strategy, you attack the messenger and not the message.

Now I am far from perfect here, I will admit. I have definitely lost it in the heat of the moment

But this anecdote was a seminal one for me.

For someone like me who enjoys a good debate, it was an important lesson. Debate the point, not the person.

Cheers.


If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop