Personal Reflection and Connection to the Article
Eduardo’s article, “How to Star-Man. Arguing from Compassion,” presents the main idea of “star-manning” as a means to improve communication and dialogue in contentious discussions. The author defines star-manning as going beyond steel-manning, responding to the strongest version of the opposition’s argument and instead engaging with “the most charitable version” of both the argument and the opponent (Eduardo). By acknowledging the opponent’s good intentions and shared desires, star-manning aims to find common ground and promote a culture of high morality and goodness.
It is possible to agree with the idea of star-manning to improve communication. In my experience, focusing on the most positive argument version and concentrating on the speakers’ good intentions can lead to a more productive and respectful conversation. It helps create an atmosphere of understanding and empathy, even in the face of fundamental disagreements.
Next time I want to persuade someone of my viewpoint, I will incorporate the concept of star-manning. Instead of immediately refuting their arguments, I will try to understand their perspective and apply the argument’s charitable version. I plan to foster a more productive and respectful conversation by acknowledging their good intentions and finding common ground.
Overall, the article presents the concept of star-manning as a means to enhance communication and interaction in contentious discussions. It highlights the importance of recognizing opponents’ humanity and good intentions and finding common ground despite disagreements. I can easily agree with the concept of star-manning and will try to incorporate it into my own discussions in the future.
Analyzing Key Quotes from the Article
One important sentence from the article is, “Different people have different upbringings, educations, beliefs, values, and temperaments—all of which inform their opinions and behaviors” (Eduardo). This highlights the importance of recognizing that people come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives. It reminds me to approach discussions with humility and an understanding that my viewpoint is not the only valid one.
Another key sentence is, “The key to star-manning is the recognition that, while there’s no shortage of terrible ideas, most of us are not as opposed to one another as we think” (Eduardo). This sentence highlights the commonalities among people, even if they hold differing opinions. It accentuates the importance of finding shared goals and desires.
Work Cited
Eduardo, Angel. “How to Star-Man | Arguing from Compassion.” CFI. 2021. Web.