Assume – and win a captive audience..

Why am I doing this blog?
Well it is because of this very post.
Today people assume things must be right when actually they aren't. Not right at all.
And if you questions these things, you are immediately dismissed, often with abuse, because they are now settled and Everybody Agrees they are Right.
Disagree? You are despicable.

Here are some arguments you can win on assumptions:

Recycling? How much are you doing? Are you recycling your plastic?
American trade is dangerous. Did you see about that chlorinated chicken?
Obesity is something which the Conservatives in Glasgow have put at the very top of their to-do list.

Inappropriate touching is something which every child should be taught about from the earliest age. Respectful relationships matter!
The legacy of Cecil Rhodes is racism, slavery and mysogyny.
You can assume in all these cases that you are talking to people who will fall into line behind you.
So you dismiss the opposition with adjectives.

Nigel Farage is man whose Brexit party consists almost entirely of elderly incontinent men.
“On the eve of the president's meeting with the Queen today, the man-child Trump says that it is not too late for the UK to follow his advice and "sue" the EU to give Britain greater "ammunition" in the talks.”

But every single one of these assumptions needs looking into.

They all come with tremendous costs involved.
And when people get disregarded, then they get very angry indeed.

Muslims in Birmingham are furious with the assumption that their children are taught about equal family rights.
Many people on the internet are furious with the Muslims for being favoured above other religions – and none.
Climate change comes with a very noticeable hike in electricity prices which has already closed down the aluminium industry and which will hit poor people hardest. At the moment, wind and solar together provide just about a third of our electricity. The rest? Comes from gas – oh and that's another thing: fracking? Forbidden.
Child safeguarding drives men away. Stranger danger. In Primary Schools and, increasingly in Secondary ones too, men are getting very rare. This, in a time when families are often run entirely by women.

So which male role models do young men follow? Who will play football with them and understand the playground?

People trust other people who have the same unquestioned prejudices.

I am doing this blog to teach everyone to question – and how to question - assumptions.
But, believe me, assumptions do form a very powerful argumentative trick.
You know it makes sense.