How to Avoid Haggling

A Great Truth just dawned on me, and I can't wait to pass it on.  I hate haggling, especially over something as important as energy policy.  When you're trying to convince someone, you're supposed to start by giving a little, to show you're reasonable and not dogmatic.  But I would not feel honest, starting a conversation by trying to say something nice about windmills.  I hate the damn things!

(Oh, now you're showing that you're biased.  Gotcha!)  No, I never claimed that I could look at all those facts and not come to a conclusion.  I'm  not a zombie.  But here's the Great Truth (and I've just recently come to see this.):  Suppose the next time a guy comes up and wants to argue about energy sources, you say something like this:  "Aw, I'm too tired to argue right now.  I'm working on a Facts Report.  Not worrying about convincing anybody about anything.  Just trying to identify all the relevant facts.  You have a different view of these things.  Maybe you could help.  If we could agree on what the relevant facts are, it ought to help make a better argument later, no?  Take a look at what I've got, and see if you see any facts I've left out.  Or maybe you don't agree with some I've got.  If you've got better, or later, info, we'll put it in."

Now, I expect few people will argue against trying to line up relevant facts.  And, freed of the obligation to half-heartedly "agree" to something you don't really believe, discussing facts is less apt to get heated.  In that situation, your "opponent" is more likely to learn a thing or two that you could never beat into him in an argument.  And YOU might even learn something yourself.  What a concept!

Try it.  You'll like it!

       

Comments

[Robert Steinhaus]

While many people would say they appreciate honesty and hold it as a key virtue, honesty remains rare mostly because it takes more effort. It takes hard work to sift through facts to determine the weight of the evidence and what speaks for each side. This is more work than most people are willing to make.
It is just not possible to be an exceptionally honest person and be lazy. Investing exceptional effort into compiling a Facts Report seems a little strange (or perhaps, better, just a little uncharacteristic of this age). Instead of quick spin or sloganeering about change an exceptional engineer's instincts are to invest his effort into digging out the facts. I think this exceptional effort benefits all participants in the great discussion about energy.

[russ]

Are you in:
1) science or engineering? if so then facts only please
2) are you in politics? then BS only as everyone will consider what you say as that only anyway
3) Are you in PR? then full spin as it only counts if it works

[Ted Rockwell]

Re: [Learning About Energy ] russ submitted a comment to How to Avoid Haggling

Russ: Ive been a practicing engineer since 1943. The Nuclear Energy Facts Report contains only facts; no opinions, conclusions or recommendations. It has an attachment which provides some relevant history, to provide background and context for the facts. You are welcome to provide additional facts or to suggest better facts (e.g. updated or otherwise better).

The main value and purpose of the Report is not the data, but the format. If all the facts I present are replaced with better and additional facts, I will not consider the Report repudiated, but vindicated, because that is its purpose: to get people discussing energy in terms of the facts.

Thanks for your input.

Ted Rockwell

http://www.typepad.com/

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