Have you ever wondered how you could handle an aggressive, unfair debater?
It’s not easy, because they are willing to do anything to get under your skin and make you look bad.
However, if you know how to, you can turn their techniques around.
This article will show you how can debate -and win- against an aggressive and unfair debater.
Background
Tucker Carlson is a Fox News host and is often seen as a regarded debater.
He certainly does have some good debating skills.
But at times he uses plenty of underhanded techniques that make him an unfair debater.
These are four unfair debating techniques that he used in his interview with Lauren Duca:
#1. Strawman Technique
Carlson attacks Lauren not on what she said, but on how he would like her to be.
Which, of course, is nastier and more extreme than who she really is.
Also, notice how confirms his own strawman when he says “that’s what you said” (49s).
That’s quite a bit sneaky.
#2. Undermine Credibility
Carlson uses two techniques to undermine Lauren’s credibility:
1. Nitpick quotes from the past
Picking what someone has said in the past is an effective and overused technique to discredit someone.
2. Undermines her credential
He mentions she writes for Teen Vogue, then quotes her description of Ariana Grande’s style.
Then pretends to go back to politics as if that were a normal detour.
Indeed, Carlson undermines her credential in an indirect way, as if the information slipped incidentally. That way it’s even more powerful as it seems unbiased information.
But of course, as Lauren herself said, whatever magazine she writes for shouldn’t delegitimize her in any way (but people’s psychology doesn’t work that way, of course).
3. Provocation
Tucker Carlson is a world-class provocateur.
Almost as good as Ben Shapiro.
His fake laughter, pungent sarcasm, and out-of-context quotes can easily drive his guests angry.
And he’s no exception here:
4. Aggression
Tucker Carlson is a powerful debater.
He has lots of energy, speaks loudly and when he feels like it, he doesn’t shy away from aggressing and disparaging guests.
Interestingly enough, that’s where Tucker loses most points.
He only wins here in the eyes of the staunchest conservatives who already agree with him.
But any moderate will find him overbearing and overly aggressive. And they’ll side with the guests.
Summary
Tucker Carlson is a smart guy and a highly skilled debater.
And he’s a very, very aggressive debater.
He doesn’t shy away from using lots of unfair debating techniques though, and he sometimes goes overboard in aggressing his guests.
And that’s where I feel he is doing no favors to his own conservative camp.
The moderates are more likely to turn away when they see contempt, sneering, and aggression.
If you’re interested in debating techniques, also check:
