(Untitled)

[annieover]

Recently in an discussion, I yelled at someone, "I hate devil's advocate. If you are not arguing what you think, YOU SUCK!" This, of course, is a purely emotional response, and the d.a. actually was making a valid point.  But when people say, "I'm just playing devil's advocate,"  I always hear, "I'm just saying shit because it amuses me to piss you

Comments

[dimfuture]

"The devil doesn't need an advocate. The brave need supporters, not critics." - Seth Godin

[annieover]

Great quote.

[jimbow8]

I have been guilt of playing d.a. solely to piss someone off, but it can also be used constructively to illuminate a perspective to someone who seems to be blindly following an ideology/opinion, even one you agree with.

[annieover]

I understand that, but I like to be told that at the beginning of the discussion, not the end. If someone says to me, "Maybe we should consider other perspectives," I'm fine with that. But if someone decides to ardently argue from the viewpoint of another value system for two hours and then says, "I don't really think that, I'm just pondering the views of someone else", I get really pissed.

[jimbow8]

For some reason Ken just popped into my head. ;)

Don't ever get him drunk then argue with him. He once spent an entire night trying to convince us that there might be a third option beside (A) and (Not A).

[jimbow8]

BTW, I posted this comment without having read any of the posts below.

[lifepart3]

As someone who has spent time with Ken, I understand completely.

[drmagoo]

You didn't live with him for four years...

[annieover]

Was that a good thing?

[drmagoo]

Yeah, it was. But there's no one I've ever met who's been more in love with the playing Devil's Advocate in order to piss people off than Ken is.