On Debate, Discussion and Arrogance

I used to do debate during my earlier years in college. It makes me proud to win an argument. I may have the truth or half of it, but I will defend and argue with it, to prove that my position is superior to yours. It doesn’t matter if you hold half of the truth that I held, or you hold a better position. Debate defines the superiority of your position between your argument and that of your opponent. People or witnesses are usually the judges. But if others think you failed and you believed you have fought well, then you are by no “buts” is the real winner by your own rules.
   
Discussion on the other hand (though sometimes being used interchangeably with debate), is the process of exchanging ideas that I believe fruitful to propositions of both side. It examine comments or arguments.  Discussion explores solution without compromising one’s position. I made a point since then to opt for discussion than debate, as far as my consciousness towards the conversation’s atmosphere is concerned. Debates water down your message and exchanging arrogance with arrogance spoils the purpose of examining the argument.
 
Arrogance dominates Debate. Discussion won’t prosper if one or both side exaggerates one’s own worth or importance in an overbearing manner. One have to listen the other and consider the opposing position from the other’s point of view before presenting your own argument. You have to understand how he perceive things. You can never say he’s wrong without understanding first what he really means. Presumption is a dangerous, unethical, unbecoming and an uncalled  attitude.
 
The weakest debater for me are those who can’t stick to the topic and desperately shifts to personal attack to gain grounds. He is a loser by position and is a deadbeat to warrant professional courtesy or civility. Prejudice rules his argument. His thought, action and emotion are filled with excessive pride. Arrogant people are often unable to realize they are not as good as they assume they are or have problems recognizing their own self limitations. Often, arrogant people can be overbearing and try to coerce/force people into doing what they don’t want to do with little regard for the other persons feelings or the groups best interest.
 
There is no absolute position in a human standard, everything is relative. You can’t say a person is an idiot just because he raises a question you thought you understand so well. You can’t say Peter’s theology is stupid as he’d never been to school, or Bill Gates was dumb just because he wasn’t able to finish even his first year in college. You can’t boast you have a higher level of intelligence just because you cannot explain. hehehe 
 
A person confident of his argument remains focused to, and solidly engaged  with, the topic.