When addressing a question, it is important to consider both how to address it and what tone to use. The speaker found themselves in a situation where they were being interviewed on a TV show by an old, right-wing individual who had misconceptions about Islam. The challenge was to respond factually, without sounding patronizing. The speaker also recognized the need to adjust their tone depending on the audience. They emphasized that the tone used in a debate at the Oxford Union would not be appropriate for an innocent elderly person on a TV show. Furthermore, the speaker acknowledged that it is not just the person asking the question and the immediate audience who would hear their response, but also the entire nation of Australia watching the show.
How can we argue in good faith? How can we communicate with confidence? How can we uncover new ideas through the art of debate? Journalist, broadcaster, and best-selling author Mehdi Hasan has made a career out of doing just that. Named one of the 100 'most influential' Britons on Twitter, and included in the annual global list of 'The 500 Most Influential Muslims' in the world, Hasan has become a bit an expert on deconstructing arguments and nudged disagreements toward mutual understanding. His book, "Win Every Argument," seeks to sharpen those skills among its readers, and relay the intrinsic value—and pleasure–of debate. John Donvan sits down with Hasan to go over the tricks of the trade, and examining methods of rooting out truths through argument.
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