Hektore

Sometimes, when a discussion isn't happening because of the reluctance of participants, if you adopt the right ridiculous position it can incite people to participate. Once participation is established, as a moderator, you can move the discussion into more useful or interesting realms.

//edit: As an example, suppose I wanted to discuss important aspects of why African American students score poorly on standardized tests compared to their Caucasian peers. Now, I could frame it in very reasonable terms and a perfectly acceptable discourse would take place in some place like TFP. Other places the discussion just would not happen, either because people don't care that much, or don't think it's a problem. In those places I could take the position that 'Black people are just stupid" and point to standardized testing as my proof. It would certainly inflame opinion, generate interest and if I play my cards right, eventually lead to the same sort of discussion. The difference is I look like an racist idiot in the process, but at least I got people to pay attention to it.

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The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.