---
title: ""Don’t force them to defend their beliefs. Whether you’re having…"
date: 2016-10-31
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
---

# "Don’t force them to defend their beliefs. Whether you’re having…

*October 31, 2016 · Facebook*

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[http://buff.ly/2diWtYp](http://buff.ly/2diWtYp){target="_blank"}
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\"Don't force them to defend their beliefs. Whether you're having drinks at a bar or scrolling through your Facebook feed, when you come across someone whose views you find abhorrent or absurd, it's tempting to engage them in a debate. After all, it seems like a reasonable way to get someone to change their mind. The problem is, when you tell people they are wrong, stupid, immoral or irrational, they simply dig in and get more entrenched in their views. This is because no matter how confident you are that they are misguided, they will always be able to find at least one line of defense. All they need is one reason that you might be wrong, one weakness in your argument, or one factor that supports their position---and then they can claim it is the most important factor in the entire debate. When your "discussion" is over, they are more firmly committed to their position than they were before.\"
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