1. Treat the person you're debating with as if they have arrived at their conclusions rationally.
a. If they are not basing their beliefs and decisions on rational thought, stop debating with them. It's not going to work.
b. If the other person is acting as though you did not arrive at your views rationally, you can ask them to stop. If they continue to act this way, stop debating them. It's not going to work.
2. Answer questions asked of you.
a. If the question is inherently unfair - "Have you stopped beating your wife?" - you can refrain from answering until the question is rephrased.
b. If the other person does not answer a question you asked of them, you can ask them to return to the question before continuing the debate. If they continue to refuse to answer your question, stop debating them. It's not going to work.
3. Acknowledge when the other person has a point.
a. It is good etiquette to acknowledge when the other person has made a point.
b. It is poor etiquette to insist on the other person acknowledging when you have made a point; however, it may be necessary to continue the debate.
4. Establish fundamental principles in common when possible.
a. If you discover that you and the other person disagree because of disagreement on some point more fundamental than the subject of the debate, you may:
i. Attempt to shift the debate to these more fundamental points (while clearly advertising what you are doing and why).
ii. Reframe your argument to work with the other person's fundamental principles.
b. If the other person refuses to try to establish common ground with you, stop debating them. It's not going to work.
5. Acknowledge when the debate is inappropriate for the medium or the time you have to dedicate to it and disengage. This can be done without conceding a point.
a. It is poor etiquette to do this in order to avoid following rule #3.
b. It is good etiquette to offer to continue the debate at a more appropriate time or in a more appropriate medium.
