Is there a way to win in a political argument at the Thanksgiving table?

The Thanksgiving table is ripe for political arguments with relatives and friends, but there’s a strategy that may help you come out on top.

KIRO Radio’s Tom & Curley Show took a look at New York Magazine’s list to see how likely it is to lead you to political victory at the table.

The first bit of advice is to “forget facts.” Tom & Curley agree this could be helpful, at least to keep the conversation interesting.

“Nothing is more boring than people throwing stats back and forth at each other,” Tom says. “That’s not going to win anybody’s argument because I’ll just go get my boatload of facts and dump them on you.”

“Let your opponent hang him or herself” is the next suggestion. New York Magazine suggests you ask people to explain their position rather than just trying to push your own. This could be helpful, Tom says, because he agrees that people end up hearing the holes in their own position.

“When you ask somebody who’s not well-versed in politics, they can’t really explain what they think, they just know they have this general reaction. So the best way to do it is just sort of ask them to explain,” Tom says. “They end up realizing, as they’re trying to explain it, ‘Well heck, I guess there are some holes in my theory.'”

The next idea suggests you basically not be a jerk.

“Nothing drives people crazier than somebody who acts like they know it all and they are snotty and sarcastic,” Tom says. “That doesn’t persuade them because they figure if you’re such a jerk, then whatever you think is probably morally suspect anyway.”

The list goes on with more suggestions, but John Curley says if you really think about it, there’s very little that can help you actually “win” an argument at the dinner table.

“You also have to realize you get to the point where you’re never going to convince somebody of your point of view and they’re never going to admit defeat,” he says.

Tom ultimately agrees that no one wants to admit defeat in front of their loved ones.