How to Argue or Communicate (Hard as Hell)

Hello my name is GameGeekFan. I am by no means a pro at Smite and I'm just a casual. I joined for guides and for the people afterwards. However I keep on noticing people arguing about items, skills, builds, and sometimes really REALLY stupid things (and I mean stupid). This is for everyone's sake, a guide on how to argue. Basically talking to others without instigating a fight.

Before I even start, the first thing you should know.

An argument is not about fighting and proving the other wrong (at least not always). It is about stating your point to others. This is always done through reasoning and facts from sources to prove your point. If you are trying to prove someone else wrong, you should do the same, through counter-arguing.

Now, why don't we get started on the subject?

1) Recognize the question they (and you) want to answer in the argument. How can you prove your point? What is most important to prove your point? If it is something like "This item is better than this item," make sure you actually answer the question instead of just stating your point and leaving.

2) Being positive and courteous goes a long way into talking to someone. No one likes a hater and everyone likes optimism. They are more likely to listen to you if you aren't talking **** about their lives and you are being open and friendly. Basically what I'm saying is, don't be THAT GUY.

3) Make sure your points make sense. This might sound obvious, but I cannot tell you how many times that I read people's reasons for doing or picking something and it felt like reading something a kid would write. Make sure your points come from a reliable source, and if it doesn't, be careful with your wording. If you make a mistake, just correct yourself and apologize.

The following chapters will be about the worst of the worst.

Mostly just either common bad reasons or things that people write or do to try to "prove" their point.

This is mostly an informational guide for you to recognize these things whenever you encounter it. I will either include ways on how to deal with it or examples for you to base it off of.

Nope. Don't. No bueno.

Anyone who insults you for no reason are the people you should avoid.

Usually when they insult you, they are also stubborn and won't change their mind. Basically, the worst. (Opinion) Please, do not be this person. There are many ways to counter-argue or argue in general without attacking the other person or group. This shouldn't even be called an argument. They are attacking YOU, not the QUESTION. Or even your reasons. Usually you should stop talking to this person. End it with a simple sentence and move on.

They still attack you? This is the internet and it will not affect your life. You ARE more mature and can keep your anger under control.

If you want to argue with them, I suggest some things to you.

1) Tell them about what they are doing wrong. Sometimes I meet people with enough reason to admit that they did something wrong and apologize. Say to them that they are not "arguing", they are fighting.

2) Do not add fuel to the fire. Do not repeat their actions back to them. They will do the exact same thing right back to you and you will go in circles. Please try to be nice and courteous.

3) Focus on the question or argument they are answering instead of acknowledging their behavior. If they actually answered your question, just focus on that. It's more easier to do that then actually telling them what they did wrong.

There is a difference though. Some people are what you call "blunt".

They come off as rude and insulting but really just mean the best of intentions. They are usually the ones that state their points with good reasoning and sources. If you do not know if they are blunt or just insulting, just go with number 3. You will find out soon afterwards.

Pretty simple to understand or know. Almost everyone has been in this situation and since all of you are on the internet right now, you basically live this out everyday.

It's going with the crowd just because everyone does it in the first place.

This might not seem like an argument, but it really is. Mostly because it's a reason. However, this isn't good reasoning to have. It limits your independence and individuality. You are not being yourself if you just follow someone else's ideas just because everyone else agrees on it.

All I can say is, do not cave into it. No matter what people say or do to get you into it, it is your decision and yours alone. YOU decide what you get into and what you like.

Big examples I can give is the Pro scene and music.

1) Some people use the pro scene as a guide on how to play the game. From anything to item selection to gods, they base their entire gameplay to go entirely on what the pros say or do. They try to convince other people to do the same. This is a ****ty argument. They are basically telling you to follow someone else instead of trying things out for yourself. It is naturally better for people to learn on their own and the way they are used to. Although things the pros do are good (including item selections and builds), it is like trying to compare a kids playground with a baseball field. A casual game and a professional game is totally different from each other. Also, if you copy the pros without explanation on: why they pick those items, why they get these actives and gods, or the strategies they use, it makes no sense to be doing it in the first place if you are not learning.

2) Music is a pretty easy thing to use for Peer Pressure. "Everyone seems to like Drake, so why not like him as well? I mean, it will be easier to talk to people about something." No. Especially no if you do not like Drake in the first place. Do not convince yourself otherwise. If you like him, you like him. If you don't, you don't. Simple as that. Don't be upfront about it either. If they ask if you like Drake or not, just say no.

There are some cases when people will try to use your feelings against you. Mostly not on purpose, but you cant let some things get to you.

This can be controversial.

This is when someone will explain something in their life that is almost always sad to explain why they did this or said this.

Now this is mostly for the internet. In real life, you can sometimes see when they are telling the truth or lying, more on that later.

If its a basic argument like, "This god is ****tier than this god," this is NOT ACCEPTABLE. When did feelings have to do with how a god works in a game? Ignore it completely but do not be an *** about it either. Being pitiful of the other person might make you give up and let them win, just because they had a "rough life." No. That is not how it works. Ever. Focus on the facts and not the feelings.

I would say the only way this is acceptable if it is clearly noticeable. In real life and in the internet. If the player is doing bad and they said that its because of something in their life, even if you are not sure they are telling the truth or not, be nice. Dont insult or ignore it. "Oh, ok" Then just help them. Dont mention it anymore. Instead of one winning, you are helping each other. Both of you win. Now isn't that nice?

In real life its different. You can see them and how they talk. All in all if its a basic argument it is still not acceptable. Anything else its mostly on you, too many possibilities to name.

They say something else to try to get your mind off the matter at hand. Also called a "Red Herring." Anyone who uses this (on purpose) is afraid of being wrong or just dont want to be in the first place. Or really, they just want to move on.

If you are not done arguing with a person and they try to change the topic, stick to the topic at hand.

You will most likely see this in real life. In the internet it is all typed up so it is a bit harder to do (I would even say impossible).

Actually one of the simplest things you can face. Again, dont be an *******, stick to the topic, and tell them about their mistake. Just force them back into the conversation and keep on going.

They list their reasons as a sort of, "If you do this, this and this and this will happen in the future." As far we know, people are not psychic. No one can predict the future clearly (some instances they might get a few right but never the whole thing).

If they are listing consequences as their reasons, it is not reasoning but just predicting.

This is pretty easy to find in ANY conversation, internet or real life. It is also pretty easy to solve with one simple sentence.

"You can't predict the future of (whatever it is) no matter how sure you are."

There are a TON of possibilities of what can happen in the future in so many ways.

Here is an example:

"If I dont go to college I cant get a job. If I cant get a job I wont have money. If I dont have money I wont have a house. If I dont have a house Ill be homeless. If Im homeless Ill die of starvation."

Now really you wont be homeless. You can get a job with a high school diploma, it is just SO much easier with a college degree. (Dont quote me on that please)

Overall, just say that he or she isnt psychic and cant call the shots on what is going to happen exactly in the future.

When someone asks you a yes or no question, be very careful. Sometimes answering yes or no makes you lose the argument. This is a very unfair tactic and should NOT BE USED EVER.

Answering yes or no can make you lose the topic at hand.

Since this is very complex (pun intended and IS true), Ill just give two examples.

"Do you admit that you are wrong?"

You say yes: You basically say you were wrong the whole time and then your whole argument is invalid.
You say no: You ARE wrong but not willing to give up.

What do you do in this situation? You say something else. Anything but yes or no.

"I am not wrong because ____ and ____.

Also, the ALS Ice Bucket is one in itself when you challenge someone.

You dont do it: You do not support ALS and wont donate. You are an *******. Period.
You do it: Forced to donate and challenge other people. Also ice freezing water thats only for the summer, any other time and youre screwed.

Excuse yourself if you cant instead of saying yes or no.

We all need to write a certain way, or we just naturally do it. All in all it depends on who you are talking to.

From your boss to teammates, how you write is totally different from how you speak. Dont mix the two up, and always remember who you are talking to.

Now lets get started on this. Oooo boy this will be long.

The bane of our existence, mostly because either people dont care about it or people dont know the difference. Also how to state it, which is actually easier to do than you think.

Opinions are your own personal reasons for believing in something, like politics or "good gods".

First of all, you need to know how to state your opinion, which is very simple actually. Always state your opinion in the first person. Never the second or third person.

Example: I think that Smite needs to step up their game on OP gods and the lack of item customization for certain roles.
In the third person: Everyone thinks that Smite needs to step up their game on OP gods and the lack of item customization.

In the third person it no longer becomes just an opinion, it becomes a fact. That ruins the whole purpose of an opinion, which is all about you.

Also PLEASE notice that the sentence is an opinion before you make a serious mistake. (a.k.a correcting them in a *******(y) way)

Do Not Do This: Just my opinion, but I think you suck at Smite and need to practice before you become a complete embarrassment to the team.
Never use it as an excuse to insult someone. Hell its not even an excuse, you are just straight-up insulting them.

Use your opinions on topics about people in a neutral way: I think that you need some practice with Athena and her taunt to set up more kills for Artemis. A root and taunt is deadly when used correctly.

Something that isnt really hard to do, but many do the wrong way.

A suggestion is to give advice on how to do certain things "correctly", or how it works the best.

This can easily be done by saying

I suggest that..
I think that you should...
Usually this works best,...

Do not force them to do anything. You are not giving orders, you are giving advice. If they decide to take your suggestion or not is not up to you, just hope that they have basic listening skills.

"I suggest that you use Soul Reaver on Vulcan, since many of his abilities are one-shot and can give them the extra firepower you need."

Do not state that they are doing something wrong, usually they will categorize you as an *** that thinks he is always right, and will ignore whatever you say, no matter how useful.

Oh god, grammar. Do not underestimate it. English would be nothing without it.

Since everyone knows what this basically is, I wont give too many examples.

This helps the reader know what the writer is talking about, in the correct order and way.

This will depend on mostly who you are talking to.

In a professional level or if you just want to seem orderly and know what you are doing, this will be a fundamental part to how you write. Commas in the wrong place will not help your case, and spelling mistakes will make you seem uneducated. A whole-run sentence will make you look like you rushed, and abbreviations will tell people that you are lazy. Instead a "professional" writing statement should be near perfect in this subject. Summarizing wont hurt either.

In a casual level, no one will really care. That is obvious. But it is still important to use enough grammar to get your point across the way you want it to. Abbreviations wont matter here, nor will some small grammar mistakes, but punctuation is still big here. "i really like goku he is such a hero and killed aliens just so powerful with his spirit bomb he can kill everyone easily" That just sounds utterly confusing now does it? Also casual people would appreciate the summaries, people usually have short time-spans.

Everyone knows this (from experience), and this is either their most hated or the most useful thing in the world.

It is when someone lists the pros and cons of something and tells how to improve it.

Usually when you think of critics, you think of those ****s that **** on anything they lay eyes on. THATS NOT WHAT CRITICS DO.

In fact its very helpful. Everyone can do it, but do it with caution.

Unlike suggestions, it is official advice. You KNOW what you are talking about, you are a "professional" in the topic so to say. Again, they dont have to listen to you, but it would help them a ton.