Discussions

I have noticed lately that people are forgetting their manners and being generally rude to people when they disagree with their opinions. I came across this today on the internet and thought I would share this as it is a common occurance in some of the recent discussions on here.  
 
 
Step 1. A cornerstone of having a polite disagreement is remaining respectful. You can disagree with another and remain respectful of their opinion.  
 
Step 2. Enter the disagreement with an open mind. You may learn something new that changes your original stance.  
 
Step 3. Do not resort to personal attacks. Anyone watching your disagreement will find you petty and uneducated if you resort to name calling and personal attacks. Additionally, the person you are disagreeing with may just shut down if you start making attacks against them personally. This gets you no where.  
 
Step 4. Keep the disagreement to the facts of the argument. When presenting your side, share the facts you have gathered that support your position and be willing to look at facts presented by the other side. Avoid bringing up inconsequential items. Don’t bring up past arguments either.  
 
Step 5. Avoid absolute statements. You always do X, You never X, etc. You should: however, be honest, truthful, and direct. Don’t embellish for the sake of the argument, but make sure you state the truth of the facts at hand. If feelings are involved, ensure to keep your statements in the “I” fashion. I feel slighted when you don’t respond to my question. Also, don’t beat around the bush. Get to your point in a direct manner.  
 
Step 6. You may never agree with the person you are having a polite disagreement with. If that is the case, agree to disagree. Many of my friends and I have opposing opinions on some topics but we agree to disagree and move on.  
 
Step 7. If you remain respectful, keep an open mind, stick to the facts, while avoiding personal attacks, you can politely disagree with another person. You will look professional, educated, and you will get your point across. Try it, you might find you like it.