This document provides strategies for "Taking the Roof Off" and dealing with a "Steamroller" in a discussion.
Taking the Roof Off involves reducing someone's argument to its logical conclusion to show its absurdity. A steamroller tries to force their position through interruption and aggression rather than reason.
To deal with a steamroller, the strategies are to 1) stop them by politely asking for time to respond without interruption, 2) shame them by pointing out they are not truly interested in a discussion if they won't listen, and 3) leave the discussion if stopping and shaming tactics don't work and they refuse to let you respond.
3. Taking The Roof Off
• Take the person’s point of view for a test drive
• Show them where it leads
4. Taking The Roof Off
• Also called reductio ad absurdum
• Reduce a point to its absurd conclusion or
consequence.
5. Taking The Roof Off
Steps
1. Reduce the person’s point of view to its basic
argument, assertion, principle, or moral rule.
2. Mentally give the idea a “test drive” to see where it
leads.
3. If you find a problem, point it out.
6. Taking The Roof Off
• Mother Theresa once appealed to the governor of
California to stay the execution of double murderer
Robert Alton Harris. Her reasoning: Since “Jesus would
forgive,” the governor should forgive.
7. Taking The Roof Off
• Claim
• If Jesus would forgive capital criminals, then it is wrong
to execute them.
8. Taking The Roof Off
• Claim
• If Jesus would forgive capital criminals, then it is wrong
to execute them.
9. Taking The Roof Off
• Taking the Roof Off
• One could always say, “Jesus would forgive.”
• So, we shouldn’t punish any criminals
• However, Romans 13 says government exists to
punish wrong doing.
10. Taking The Roof Off
• Taking the Roof Off
• Even though Jesus might forgive murderers, that
does not mean it is wrong for the government to
punish them.
11.
12. Taking The Roof Off
• Claim
• Jesus casts out demons by the power of Satan.
13. Taking The Roof Off
• Taking the Roof Off
• If Satan is the source of Jesus’ power, then Satan is
casting out Satan, destroying his own kingdom. This is
absurd.
14. Taking The Roof Off
• Therefore
• Jesus’ power must not come from Satan, but from God
who opposes Satan.
21. Step 1: Stop Him
• Simply hold up your hand and gently say, “I’m not quite
finished,” and then continue.
• Be calm and wait for an opening.
• Don’t talk over the person
22. Step 1: Stop Him
• Aask him to give you something — patience and
courtesy — so that you can give him something in return
— an answer.
23. Step 1: Stop Him
• “Is it okay with you if I take a few moments to answer
your question before you ask another? I’ll give you a
chance to respond when I get done. Will that work?”
24. Step 1: Stop Him
• “That’s a good question, and it deserves a decent
answer, but that will take a few minutes. Are you okay
with that?”
26. Step 2: Shame Him
• “Can I ask you a favor? I’d love to respond to your
concern, but you keep breaking in. Could I have a few
moments without being cut off to develop my point?
Then you can tell me what you think. Is that okay with
you?”
• Wait for a response.
27. Step 2: Shame Him
• “Can I ask you a quick question? Do you really want a
response from me? At first I thought you did, but when you
continue to interrupt I get the impression all you want is an
audience. If so, just let me know and I’ll listen. But if you
want an answer, you’ll have to give me time to respond. Tell
me what you want. I need to know before I can continue.”
• Wait for a response.
