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single30-Sep-1998opinionjen Survey Central Gold Subscriberby votes55456.5%

  Does getting the last word in a debate equate to winning it?



VotesAnswer
42No. The content of the debate determines the winner(s), regardless of last words.
5No. I can still win, but only if my debate partner's last words are "You are right."
2Yes. If I get the last word, I win.

UserComment
Pomeranian Bronze Star Survey Creator
posted 30-Sep-1998 7:58pm  

If this were true, most so called "debates" would never end...
Mimi
posted 30-Sep-1998 8:22pm  

I keep after them until they admit defeat! I am nothing if not persistent.
daver
posted 30-Sep-1998 8:38pm  

Given the context of the question, where debates must have a winner and a loser, then it's only a "win" if the other person concedes the debate. Getting the last word just means you are more stubborn than the other person.
hunter
posted 1-Oct-1998 5:07am  

No, but many other people seem to think that it does and I often use this to get out of a debate. If you stop, they think they've won and they stop. I don't like "debate" really. I enjoy discussing issues, but Competitive Conversation isn't my event.
lizzie
posted 1-Oct-1998 9:38am  

not quite. ***cheat! no fair being the administrator and using that to your advantage.
doom
posted 1-Oct-1998 10:16am  

I have typically found that the person who gets in the last word is on the losing side and is trying for one last attempt to prove their point.
elijahblue
posted 1-Oct-1998 11:59am  

lisashea: so you want an apology? ok, I'm sorry you're arrogant, self-deluding, and predictable as hell :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
phi
posted 1-Oct-1998 12:04pm  

No, and I lied when I said "that's all I'm going to say on the topic.". Lisashea won that debate fair and square, and I don't think I'm the only person who thinks so.
lisashea
posted 1-Oct-1998 12:13pm  

Nope, content. I'm sure this is based on the EB/Lisa argument. I was in fact going to come on today and wipe out all of my comments in both surveys and move them to my Empathy web page, because it wearies me that she thinks apparently that I'm "out to win". I debate all the time, with friends and family. We don't have winners and losers! We definitely don't resort to name calling, as EB has. Nor to blasting someone for perceived ills and then not apologizing when it's shown there was a simple mistake involved. I truly learned a lot from our debate over empathy; she apparently was trying to win and says she did not learn a thing. I don't enjoy debating when the person I'm debating is in it for the kill. And especially I don't enjoy debating when that person beats on me because he or she THINKS I am "also" in it for the kill.

ElijahBlue: Thank you :) I actually recognize two of those exact same qualities in you, but I think you consider them assets: you, as I, know what your point of view is and doubt people will present new information to change it. Doesn't that make us predictable? Doesn't that make us appear arrogant? As for self-deluding, I doubt either of us is self-deluding. We both argue so many points of view, including our own, that it would be hard to maintain a delusion within that. I don't take offense at our conversations and am trying to empathize and figure out why you do.

jjg
posted 1-Oct-1998 12:36pm  

Sometimes someone is just more persistent. Should that mean they win even if their argument isn't sound? I don't think so.
drdt
posted 2-Oct-1998 1:09am  

'In an argument, you have either two winners, or two losers.'

I am very poor at arguing... in general, if I am in an argument, I lose. Usually I give up as soon as it becomes evident that I am not going to be able to hold my position, which makes my opponent think they have convinced me of something they haven't... so they lose, too.

If I feel like I am holding my own, then I will stay around long enough to find out who is right and who is wrong, and sometimes it is me and sometimes it is you, but either way we both win, because at the end of the argument, we are in agreement.

I find it interesting that you use the word 'partner'.

Catsmeow23
posted 2-Oct-1998 2:37am  

I have to be right all the time even when I'm not it's my downfall
ammist
posted 2-Oct-1998 3:10am  

I hate it when they say "You're right" just to get me to shut up.
gilly
posted 2-Oct-1998 8:58am  

I beg to differ, bill... *I* win!

Hey! that's just not fair. Geez. Taking advantage of your power like that ill becomes you ;)

kirst
posted 2-Oct-1998 9:53am  

Who cares???
jzp Survey Central Gold Subscriber
posted 2-Oct-1998 3:59pm  

What a ridiculous thought. Content is disjoint from presentation in a debate. Now, maybe in a media circus, flameware, or some other form of communication, but not in a debate.
Ynot
posted 3-Oct-1998 9:38am  

in getting the last word in, how do you know if you've "won" or is the other person just got tired of listening to you?
Jaime
posted 5-Oct-1998 6:21am  

None of the above. If the topic is a matter of opinion, no one can win. If not, only who defends the truth can win.
LindaH Survey Central Gold SubscriberBronze Star Survey CreatorSurvey QualifierThis user is on the site NOW (5 minutes and 49 seconds ago)
posted 28-Jul-2008 5:19pm  

No. Getting the last laugh does. *evil smile*



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