Ask what would change their mind
If the answer is 'nothing', stop. If it's something, bring that.
Before you pile on evidence, ask what evidence WOULD move them. It respects them enough that they stop defending, it tells you whether the conversation can go anywhere, and it quietly holds them to a standard — because you'll be asked the same thing back.
Instead of
Here are six studies that prove you're wrong.
Try
Genuine question — what would it take for you to change your mind on this?
Try it today
Ask someone what would change their mind today. Then ask yourself the same about your own view.
The science
Falsifiability (Popper): a view that no evidence could move isn't a claim. Asking the question is also the core of 'street epistemology' and of Tetlock's superforecaster habits.
Where you'd actually use it
Next lesson
- 🛠️ Name it, break it, replace itRebuttal is three moves. Most people only do the middle one.
- 🛑 Stop after the pointThe sentence after your best sentence is where arguments go to die.
- 🫀 Find the value underneathYou're not arguing about the policy. You're arguing about what they're afraid of.