Part 5/8:
To counter a straw man tactic, debaters should calmly highlight misunderstandings, stating, "I think you're misinterpreting my position." If a discussion turns particularly confrontational, as it did with Gladwell, one may need to assertively call out the mischaracterization, but doing so with a perspective of grace can preserve the dignity of the debate.
Handling Overloading Accusations
A third damaging behavior to avoid is "overloading," which demands an opponent defend against irrelevant accusations. Gladwell exhibited this when he suggested that Murray and Taibbi should ensure they agree with one another, confusing their distinct viewpoints. Murray responded appropriately by asserting the value of differing opinions even among allies, thus deflecting the unnecessary pressure.