Disagreeing Agreeably

Question

How do you disagree with someone agreeably?

It's important to express our opinions, but without sounding rude or too direct.

How do you think you should disagree agreeably?

Answer 1

Instead of saying "I disagree." or "Your answer is wrong."

Try this:

"I understand your point of view, however, I wonder if we could also say..."

"That's a very good point that you make, but I would like to ask..."

"That's an interesting perspective. I wonder if..."

How would you disagree agreeably? Write your answers in the comments below and always feel free to contact me with questions.

Answer 2

I always say, what I don't like for myself I don't do it to others. So if I disagree with someone I would let them know in a polite way that I disagree, Because I would like someone to do the same for me. Some people get defensive if you disagree with them whether you're polite or not so if I know the person and know that the person is always defensive I'll strangle the subject to avoid arguments. If it is a stranger that I disagree with I'll listen and if they do not ask me for my opinion then I'll keep my opinion to myself. If they ask me for my opinion then I'll respond politely, If they get defensive I just walk away. People are different and I learn that most people don't like it when you disagree with them so if the topic is not important and you do not know how to politely disagree just keep your opinion to yourself to avoid an agreement.

Answer 3

When it comes to disagreeing agreeably, it's all about tone. Tone is extremely important not just in our day-to-day conversations, but also in our writing. If we want to convey an understanding tone, then we should choose words that are simple and straightforward. The person we are speaking to should not feel attacked or threatened by our words, but instead feel heard and understood.

I will provide some examples.

In a conversation with someone you disagree with you might say, "I think that your idea is good, but let's think of some more that might apply to the situation."

That would be better than saying the following, "I disagree with your idea. Let's do this instead."

The second way completely negates the idea of the person, while the first way gives their idea credibility.

Do's:

"I didn't think of it that way. This is what I think."

"What an interesting idea! I want to share mine with you."

"Can you explain to me how you came to that conclusion?"

"That is one way to look at the situation. I see it this way."

Don'ts:

"I don't agree with you."

"I don't think that's what they meant by that."

"That's wrong."

"You're wrong."

Answer 4

When agreeing to disagree, word choice is very important. It's best to avoid hostile or aggressive wording such as:

1. "No, I don't agree because.." and
2. "That's wrong, I think that.."

Instead, use phrases that show that you are hearing what they are saying while not necessarily agreeing. A couple examples of this would be:

1. " I hear you, my take on this is..."
2. " I agree up to a point, but I feel that..."
3. " I see what you mean, but could we discuss..."

Answer 5

I often don't have the same opinion as another person. I've read the responses from other tutors, but my personal experience is that no matter how politely we choose our words and voice tone to disagree, some people will still become argumentative and rude. To try to "disagree agreeably" is a very admirable goal, but please realize that it's not always possible and that the other person can confront you in a stressful, anxiety-provoking way. I always ask myself these questions when hearing something I disagree with spoken by another person, "Is my opinion worth sharing? Does it really matter to me that I share my opinion with this other person, or is it more important to me that I feel strongly about my convictions and don't need to express them to the other person who has the opposite but an equally strong opinion? Will what I say, no matter how politely, influence the other person or will they probably just ignore what I think?" In many cases, I have learned that it's best to avoid stating a different opinion and just say, "I'm glad you have a strong opinion. Many people don't care about this topic." After that, change the discussion to SOMETHING ELSE. Topics that are best avoided include politics, religion, and how people choose to spend their money.

My response to you doesn't provide the answer you seek but I'm trying to give the alternative to all people that very often, not sharing their opinion is the best course of action. You do not have to "disagree agreeably" about everything you hear but tolerate the opinion, say it's interesting, and TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. What really matters is your own opinion and how it influences your life, not making your opinion known to others around you who may not care at all and can, as I wrote, become argumentative, rude, angry, and stress-provoking. People today do not want to be contradicted and if it's not necessary to share an opposing view with them, I have experienced that it's better not to do so, especially if you don't know them or barely know them.