User:North8000/Page2

Useful method to take a whack at any thought
In it is quite common for someone to come forward with an observation, opinion or suggestion that is based on what they learned from the SUM of many (often hundreds of) experiences and examples. Each example taken alone has other complexities and imperfections which prevent it from a perfect example of or proof of the thought.

So, if you don't like the thought, here's an effective way to take a whack at it.


 * Step 1: Ask them to give you an example of it


 * Step 2: Find the above described complexities or imperfections with respect to it being a perfect example or proof of the thought.


 * Step 3 Note those issues which you found. Structure the conversation to pretend/imply that the example was presented as THE basis for their thought (vs. them just being nice and responding to your request) and imply that invalidating the example-as-being-proof refutes their argument.


 * One other tip. Come up with another idea on how the example-situation could have been solved, and imply/pretend that such invalidates the example.

Additional benefit
Finding and vetting applicable examples is an order of magnitude more time consuming than implementing the above tactics after they find them. This asymmetry is useful for grinding them down.