Comment by 6gvONxR4sf7o

I find a general version of this to be hard. Someone with expertise who you respect says something that seems idiotic. Intellectual humility suggests you keep an open mind, but they essentially said "1+1 != 2." Maybe it's a Chesterson's fence kind of thing and you shouldn't refute it before you figure out why they said it instead of the obvious alternative. Or maybe you are sure they're just wrong but want to tell them so without talking down to them. It's very hard. "Doesn't 1+1=2?" "Have you considered that 1+1=2?" "Why aren't you just using standard grade school arithmetic?" "JFC. 1+1=2 ya nincompoop."

Even being socratic (my preferred slow as hell approach) can sometimes border being patronising.