How to Disagree without being Disagreeable:
I received this comment about my $1000 to the WOFAS…..blog via a private email –“I think your article on the Patch is shameful and juvenile;” Since this was a private email, I will respect the privacy of the sender. I am taking this opportunity to illustrate Rule # 1 when engaging in a debate or argument. Rule # 1: Attack the point that your opponent is making, not your opponent. Notice that the sender did not state – “You are a shameless juvenile.” He stated that my article was shameful and juvenile. Notice the difference between telling someone – “what you are telling me is not true” versus “you are a liar.”
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I bring this up because if all of us practice this rule, especially during the Public Comments portion of our Town Council meetings, there will be less chances that we will have a repeat of what happened at the June 25th meeting. Mr. Sayers said it at the conclusion of that meeting and I will paraphrase it – “giving insults to the other side will not accomplish anything.”
