How to Disagree: Must Read For All Posters

[Joe Matt]

Found this on Daringfireball.net, takes all the levels of disagreement and breaks them down into names and ideas.

http://www.paulgraham.com/disagree.html

But while DH levels don't set a lower bound on the convincingness of a reply, they do set an upper bound. A DH6 response might be unconvincing, but a DH2 or lower response is always unconvincing.

The most obvious advantage of classifying the forms of disagreement is that it will help people to evaluate what they read. In particular, it will help them to see through intellectually dishonest arguments. An eloquent speaker or writer can give the impression of vanquishing an opponent merely by using forceful words. In fact that is probably the defining quality of a demagogue. By giving names to the different forms of disagreement, we give critical readers a pin for popping such balloons.

A worthwhile read and one I'm going to try and follow more often.