If you don't want people to know your age...

[Gene Kim-Eng]

I think the issue is one of bearing appropriate to the situation.
There are forums in which a spirited debating style can indicate
that you are passionate about your position and ready to defend
it to the death and will reflect well on you.  A wine and cheese
schmooze is probably not one of these, and it may be more
appropriate to just tell the person you're schoozing with that
you have a wildly differing view and would welcome the
opportunity to try to change his or her mind at another more
suitable time and place, then let the other person tell you if
such a discussion is of mutual interest.  It's just another form
of "know your audience," and demonstrating that you do may
better serve you than coming out on top on some specific
point.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
> Dick Margulis wrote:

> On the other hand, I don't understand the point of public 
> gatherings--or even private gatherings--if etiquette demands that 
> everyone agrees with everyone else all the time. How are we to 
> exchange ideas and move society forward if it is universally 
> considered rude to engage in persuasive argument. Further, if you are 
> looking for a creative person, an independent thinker, for the value 
> he or she can bring to your organization, perhaps you need to accept 
> the personality baggage that may go along with those qualities.
>
> Or maybe I'm just jumping to the guy's defense because I'm a 
> contentious SOB myself. Who knows?