🔗 How to win an argument with a toddler

You can't.

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If you’re regularly having arguments with well-informed people of goodwill, you will probably ‘lose’ half of them–changing your mind based on what you’ve learned. If you’re not changing your mind, it’s likely you’re not actually having an argument (or you’re hanging out with the wrong people.) While it can be fun to change someone else’s position, it’s also a gift to learn enough to change ours.

The toddler puts on a show of having an argument, but they are holding a tantrum in reserve. If they ‘win’ the argument, no tantrum is needed. If they lose, they can tell themselves that they tried but the other person deserved the tantrum because they didn’t listen.

How to win an argument with a toddler | Seth's Blog

https://seths.blog/2025/04/how-to-win-an-argument-with-a-toddler/

Poignant reminder to everyone on the internet and now the podcasts claiming to "have an argument" to chase truth.