Question for Debate: How can deception be used effectively in a debate about some issue in Christianity?
There's a multitude of ways to use deception in a debate, but a good place to start to use deception in a debate is to accuse your opponent of committing fallacies whether she is committing fallacies or not. You need not even bother to say what fallacy you accuse her of committing. If she merely asks a question, then charge her with arguing fallaciously taking care to avoid revealing that a question is not an argument and normally involves no mistakes in reasoning.
Now, if you want to charge her with a particular fallacy, a good one to charge her with is a strong-man fallacy. Whether she represents properly what you're saying or not, make sure to accuse her of misrepresenting your position. That way you can make her appear daft not being able to understand your argument, or make her look deceptive deliberately twisting your words.
And speaking of making your opponent look bad, do your best to make her look bad! Launch personal attacks on her rather than her arguments. Depending on how hostile your audience is to your opponent, you might employ name-calling calling her a "clown" or a "troll." If you are successful in going after her person, then your audience will see her as a person who doesn't know what she is talking about or as a deliberate deceiver and should not be believed.
Other deceptions useful in winning a debate include:
- √ Never concede defeat even if you have good reason to.
√ If the debate is going badly, then run off hoping nobody has noticed you gave up.
√ Never answer questions that if answered sensibly and honestly will expose weaknesses in your position.
√ Appeal to the majority if you have no good evidence.
√ Appeal to one or more authorities that you know the audience likes.
√ Attack your opponent's sources, statistics or evidence even if you know they have no relevant weaknesses.
√ Appeal to pity charging that what your opponent is arguing is cruel or sad.
