Ever watched an argument turn into a tangle of side points and personal digs? It’s easy to lose the plot. Sherlock Holmes had a better approach. He said: “In solving a problem … the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards.” He meant to start with what’s known, and work methodically towards the unknown. The same applies to arguments. Begin with broad points everyone agrees on. Then narrow the focus, one layer at a time, until you reach what’s really at issue. It’s a smarter path through the noise. Make it a great day, dear reader, and reason

You suggest adding healthier breakroom snacks, and someone snaps, “So you want to ban donuts now?” That’s a classic “straw man”: misrepresenting your point to make it easier to attack. It’s a tactic often used in debates, online spats, and everyday conversations. As Darwin once noted, “Great is the power of steady misrepresentation, but … this power does not long endure.” Real credibility comes from addressing real arguments, not distorted ones. Next time you’re in a disagreement, pause and ask: Am I engaging with the actual point or just knocking down a convenient fiction? Make it a great day, dear

Before making your next argument, pause. Are you truly listening? Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck once said: “You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” If you’re planning your rebuttal while the other person speaks, you’re not really listening – you’re waiting. Active listening means being fully present. It means restating another’s point of view, even if you disagree. That simple act builds trust and deepens dialogue. So, try listening to understand, not reply. It’s how constructive disagreements are built – and how real respect grows. Make it a great day, dear reader, and listen

You share an opinion. Someone responds, not by addressing your point, but by dismissing you. “What do you know?” they scoff. That’s an ad hominem attack – Latin for “against the person.” When people can’t counter your ideas, they often go after you instead. But as Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “It is only when they cannot answer your reasons, that they wish to knock you down.” Insults don’t win arguments – they end them. If we want stronger conversations, we need to challenge ideas, not each other. Make it a great day, dear reader, and argue the point … not

Rhetoric isn’t just for debate teams or politicians – it’s for all of us, every day. Whether you’re making a case at work, talking with a friend, or asking for what you need, how you communicate matters. Lee Iacocca once said: “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” Clear, persuasive communication helps ideas land and relationships grow. So next time you speak your mind, ask: Am I expressing my ideas in a way that helps them be heard? Make it a great day, dear reader, and speak with purpose.