How do you do sound-bite conversations?

[BronzeArcher]

I'm just wondering, for those who have some experience in doing spoken, informal, uncontrolled exegetical debates.

How do you communicate
a) methodology
b) argument

at the same time? I've had a string of discussions recently and it's been me attempting to draw an argument while the response is a 3 second response of some popular dogma. :shrug: Help?

[James Peter]

Basically you have to be very, very patient but also to realise that, if your 'opponent' is just responding in that way constantly, that they do not actually want to discuss the issue. They are quite comfortable with their received understanding, even though they do not themselves understand it enough to be able to defend it. If that is the nature of the person you're speaking to then you have to cut your losses. If, however, they are interested in a serious discussion then they should be willing to approach the issue in a structured way. Let them lay out their understanding first and then demonstrate the weaknesses in it. Once they acknowledge that their view is not perfect they are much more likely to actually care about an alternative.

[Dr. Jack Bauer]

I'm just wondering, for those who have some experience in doing spoken, informal, uncontrolled exegetical debates.

How do you communicate
a) methodology
b) argument

at the same time? I've had a string of discussions recently and it's been me attempting to draw an argument while the response is a 3 second response of some popular dogma. :shrug: Help?If the response is just a few seconds of dogmatic affirmation, then that's the thing to expose. Ask about the response by saying, "what are the reasons for thinking that's true?" probe the responses for adequacy, demand that the person show that they're giving defences and not just assertions. Ask about their methdology, "but why should I choose to adopt that method of interpretation when others are available? What makes that one better?"

Another thing - and this can sound bad, but it does help - is to memorise arguments that you can systematically and clearly reproduce in a verbal setting. It will help you to get the clearest possible idea of what the point you want to make is, and then if a mere soundbyte is given as a response, it will justify you all the more in asking why anybody should think the soundbite is true in the face of your argument to the contrary.