A Week of Reading Debates I Disagreed With

Last week I set myself a small challenge: read one debate a day on a topic where I was sure I was right, and read the other side first.

What I noticed

• The best arguments against me were quieter than I expected.
• Most people were not trying to win, they were trying to explain.
• I found two points I could not answer, which was uncomfortable and useful.

What I kept

I did not change my mind on everything. But I now understand why reasonable people land elsewhere, and that has made me a better listener in real life as well as online.

If you try this, tell me how it goes.