KIRO NIGHTS

Stine’s pro tip: Bring data when you plan to argue a point

Jun 3, 2021, 12:40 PM | Updated: Jun 4, 2021, 5:57 am

microphone, data...

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

I have always been a fan of allowing someone to speak their piece. In some way, it is a bit of a compulsion. I like having conversations with people who hold positions that I fundamentally disagree with.

For example, I’ll talk to socialists, Marxists, people who like Marvel movies — anyone with whom I think holds a horrible, uninformed, and tasteless opinion. I think of it as mental exercise, in which I don’t try to debate the individual, but rather I try to take in and empathize with their position — whatever it might be.

However, I have noticed a strange consistency in conversation with people who hold radical social agendas. There is often no data. None. Mostly it’s just a lot of hot takes and proclamations as to the “unfairness” of a system. Not always, but often enough for me to notice this is a habit with my friends on the left.

Recently on KIRO Nights, I had on Reverend Bianca Davis-Lovelace to discuss the “Cancel The Rents” platform. I was happy to talk to Reverend Davis-Lovelace and would have her on again, any time. But at one point, I asked something to the effect of, “How much money are you asking for?” and “How would you pay for this?”

To my surprise, I did not get a clear answer on these simple questions.

This wasn’t a debate and certainly wasn’t time for a “gotcha” moment, but I couldn’t help but notice that this simple question went completely unanswered.

If I could give a piece of advice to people when they discuss their position on an issue: Have more than just a policy in mind, have some numbers to present, have something to cite, give me something to latch on to. Otherwise, what do I have to focus on? That we should cancel the rent for some people, at some amount, for some untold duration, to some effect?

To all of my lefty friends out there, take a page out of my playbook. When you show up to chat with a person who is genuinely curious about the way you see the world, have some data and state your case.

I’m all ears.

Listen to KIRO Nights with Jack Stine weeknights from 7 p.m. – 10p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

KIRO Nights on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to kiro nightsTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 7 pm for KIRO Nights with Jack Stine.

KIRO Nights

KIRO Nights

Image: Artist and owner of Snohomish's Top It Yogurt Shoppe Ken Coleman uses acrylic paint markers ...

Steve Coogan

KIRO Nights: Top It Yogurt Shoppe art recreates famed film scenes

Jake Skorheim told the story of discovering Top It Yogurt Shoppe in Snohomish last year while on an outing with his family.

6 hours ago

machete...

Matt Butler, KIRO Nights and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

The tale of a local hero and his machete

Nafi Quatamin owns the Salena One Market in Tacoma. Like many small stores in the area, his market has been targeted for robbery.

1 month ago

Image:A Mexican Mariachi band surrounded by heart-shaped balloons awaits the arrival of a couple's ...

Matt Butler

KIRO Nights on dating rules, timeframes: How long is too long to wait?

Deborah Graham's mention of the rule of threes provoked some polar opposite opinions from listeners.

1 month ago

smart phone...

Frank Sumrall

Skorheim: ‘I’m not going to give my kids a smartphone’

"I think it's very dangerous to give kids smartphones at too young of an age," KIRO Nights host Jake Skorheim said.

3 months ago

Image: A rest area sign advertising free coffee can be seen in the state of Washington....

Jake Skorheim

Skorheim: How do you feel about WSDOT’s $10M bathrooms?

WSDOT says the agency needs $500 million to fix their 47 aging rest stops throughout the state.

4 months ago

Image: Fireworks go off at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on July 3, 2020, near Keystone, South D...

Matt Butler

Which artists, groups belong on Seattle’s music Mount Rushmore

KIRO personalities debated and discussed the music that defines Seattle and what artists belong on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle music.

5 months ago

Stine’s pro tip: Bring data when you plan to argue a point