What are the 'RISA Rules' for constructive discussion with people who disagree with you? A world debate champion explains the tips for discussion

When arguing with someone who disagrees with you, it often ends up being a one-sided clash of arguments, with no gain. Bo So, a two-time world champion debater and coach of the Harvard University debate team, offers some advice for developing constructive debates.

Train for any argument with Harvard's former debate coach | Bo Seo - YouTube


Seo was born in South Korea and moved to Australia at the age of eight. He was unfamiliar with English when he first arrived, so he would only offer opinions he agreed with in most discussions. However, after encountering debate, which requires one person to speak while the others listen silently, he began to show his talent for debate.

When interacting with someone who has a different opinion, differences can arise in areas other than the subject of discussion, making the subject of the discussion unclear and leading to an uncontrollable situation. To avoid this problem, Seo proposes a rule called 'RISA.'

RISA is an acronym for 'Real,' 'Important,' 'Specific,' and 'Aligned.' By asking yourself the following four questions before a discussion, you can determine whether the issue is worth discussing and make it easier to have a constructive conversation.

Is the point being made true? First, make sure that each party's point is true and not based on a misunderstanding.
Is the issue important? Determine whether the disagreement is important enough to you that it requires justification.
Are the issues specific enough? Make sure the disagreement is specific enough to make progress.
Do you and your opponent have the same purpose?: Check whether your purpose in participating in the discussion is the same as your opponent's.

Furthermore, when discussing something, it is important to clarify the areas where you disagree and make sure you agree on other areas to prevent the discussion from straying from the main point. By clarifying the main point, it becomes easier to bring the discussion back on track if participants stray from the main point.

Seo also points out that in order to get others to listen to your opinion, you first need to listen to the other person's opinion. While beginners in discussions tend to perceive 'listening' as a passive act, advanced debaters see it as a very active element. By carefully listening to the other person's opinion, you can 'understand the whole of the other person's opinion, not just part of it, and sometimes even reconstruct it to make it better, which can be a constructive act that benefits both parties.'

Seo has also written a book titled ' Good Arguments ,' which compiles discussion techniques, and the Japanese translation, 'Let's Start by Listening: Debate Lessons for Dialogue,' is available on Amazon.co.jp for 2,200 yen (tax included).

Amazon.co.jp: Let's Start with Listening: Debate Lessons for Dialogue: Bo Seo, Bo Seo, Setsuko Kawazoe: Books