Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
9 The Big Argument
I don’t remember getting much,
From all the training that I took,
Except for the Seven Habits,
They even gave us a glossy copy of the book.
One of The habits was “Seek first to understand,”
More silliness and fake,
But then they fully fleshed it out,
I saw the thing might take.
Never continue with an argument,
Until it is agreed to on both the sides,
That everyone who saddles up,
Knows which horses they all ride.
Simple, the argument does not continue,
Until both sides are agreed,
That you have repeated their position,
You understand and are pleased,
Big Arguments always have the phrase,
“I didn’t say that,” in the air,
And “Yes you did,” is the answer,
And I know we’ve all been there.
But why not eliminate the conflict,
By first agreeing where you stand,
The first note in the symphony,
Should be seeking to understand.
And what if the rocket fails to launch,
And is smoking in the field?
Then that is okay too,
A Win-Win, and no deal.
Today's prompt is "the big argument" and I think there is an interesting concept in it. About everyone knows that nearly all arguments contain the refrain "I didn't say that!!" Right. This technique eliminates the need to argue about what each side actually said or didn't say. Basically, the process requires that each side must first repeat back all points that the other side makes, and the other side must agree that you repeated it back accurately. Here is an example:
Side one: There ought to be a law to keep the mentally ill from buying guns.
Side two: You want laws that restrict gun ownership.
Side one: Try again.
Side two: You want the government to take away our guns.
Side one: No, a law keeping the mentally ill from buying guns.
Side two; You want a law that keeps mentally ill from buying guns.
Side one: Correct.
9 The Big Argument
I don’t remember getting much,
From all the training that I took,
Except for the Seven Habits,
They even gave us a glossy copy of the book.
One of The habits was “Seek first to understand,”
More silliness and fake,
But then they fully fleshed it out,
I saw the thing might take.
Never continue with an argument,
Until it is agreed to on both the sides,
That everyone who saddles up,
Knows which horses they all ride.
Simple, the argument does not continue,
Until both sides are agreed,
That you have repeated their position,
You understand and are pleased,
Big Arguments always have the phrase,
“I didn’t say that,” in the air,
And “Yes you did,” is the answer,
And I know we’ve all been there.
But why not eliminate the conflict,
By first agreeing where you stand,
The first note in the symphony,
Should be seeking to understand.
And what if the rocket fails to launch,
And is smoking in the field?
Then that is okay too,
A Win-Win, and no deal.
Today's prompt is "the big argument" and I think there is an interesting concept in it. About everyone knows that nearly all arguments contain the refrain "I didn't say that!!" Right. This technique eliminates the need to argue about what each side actually said or didn't say. Basically, the process requires that each side must first repeat back all points that the other side makes, and the other side must agree that you repeated it back accurately. Here is an example:
Side one: There ought to be a law to keep the mentally ill from buying guns.
Side two: You want laws that restrict gun ownership.
Side one: Try again.
Side two: You want the government to take away our guns.
Side one: No, a law keeping the mentally ill from buying guns.
Side two; You want a law that keeps mentally ill from buying guns.
Side one: Correct.
