orchidlake

Any tips on how one with basically zero debating skills could keep up with someone that made it their life purpose to discuss their (potentially toxic and damaging) ideologies? Or is there any way to argue "against cold hard facts" like statistics that are used for said ideologies (e.g. STDs apparently being more common for homosexuals which was used to argue that Homosexuals shouldn't exist)? It's incredibly taxing for someone with no debate experience to try to show someone their views are toxic or offensive against someone that will just pull up "non-judgmental facts" and has spent what feels like their entire life on digging their claws into their ideas...

I appreciate the honesty! And I've definitely much to learn... "Brawler" is an interesting term... In my case there's not even an agreement on debating in the first place, I'm just given unasked for statistics with seeming intent to sow hate organizations discontent in me and I always find myself helpless to defend/protect my position. I've resorted to establishing boundaries to make clear I'm not someone these things can be debated with which has been respected, but it still comes up sometimes since the person is too used to that lifestyle I suppose and it feels like a source of a lot of negativity in the person's life.

Do you think it's possible to un-train oneself to debate? As it seems that it can become an overall tendency which at least in this person's case has lead to a lot of strain in their social circle.

Also, would you recommend your book to a Brawler type? Could it help them possibly acknowledge bully-tactics they're using? I've never been someone to debate non-interpersonal things but my interest is definitely piqued now...

Thank you for responding! (& I understand if this is too much to respond to, so comfortably skip!)

Is it possible for people and/or abuse to cause burnout? For two years I was always too tired or anxious to do ANYTHING in my life and have gotten done and enjoyed more things within 2 months, a while after the abuse ended, than in those 2 years. And does burn out stay like a wound? I'm not sure if it's a kind of social/emotional burnout, but I find myself incapable or highly hesitant to deal with people if they prove troublesome or if they show a tendency to disregard my boundaries