Word to use instead of devil's advocate 2

[CrystalStart]

Is there a word to use instead of "devil's advocate"?

 

[SantaMufasa]

Blimey,

Thems all sound like great names for new political parties to go along with "Labour", "Tory", "Liberal", et cetera..."I'm a Negationalist"...it has a great ring to it.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)

http://www.dasages.com

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[KenCunningham]

As does 'I'm an apathist', but we'll never get in 'cos we can't be bothered to vote.

Where have I heard 'negatory' before? Was it some television show or other (Star Trek springs to mind, but it might not be).

 

[GPOTony]

I think 'negatory' is CB lingo. It was in the song "Convoy".

 

[AngelB]

I think I can hear it being said in a film "Negatory good buddy" or something like that?

Gez



Sorry, did I say something wrong? Pardon me for breathing which I never do anyway so I don't know why I bother to say it Oh God I'm so depressed - Marvin, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

[KenCunningham]

10-4. I hesitate to say 'Good Buddy' on the basis of the info. here:

http://www.cbgazette.com/slang.html

 

[CrystalStart]

Oh, well, I think there isn't a word

 

[sleipnir214]

CrystalStart:
Out of curiosity, why are you looking for an equivalent phrase?

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[RodKnowlton]

CrystalStart,

You could probably make "gainsayer" work in most contexts.

"It may amuse you to gainsay everything I say, but I find it annoying."

"Don't be such a gainsayer."

"You're gainsaying for amusement again, aren't you?"




Rod Knowlton
IBM Certified Advanced Technical Expert pSeries and AIX 5L
CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA Security+

 

[Zathras]

I'm assuming the context is a design or review meeting, or some such.

The phrase
[tt]
"Just to play the Devil's advocate, what if..."
[/tt]
could be replaced with
[tt]
"Just to consider the downside for a moment, what if..."
[/tt]
Is that what you're looking for?

 

[BelgianBrownie]

Mmmm, Zathras, how about a "downsider"?

 

[KenCunningham]

Star for Rod, the best so far I think. Unless anyone wants to gainsay me.

 

[CrystalStart]

Rod,
I am taking a "gainsayer"!I learn, I live!Thanks! Star!

sleipnir,
I went to an "English for teachers" forum (looking for non-fictional reading for my child) and stumbled upon this issue they were struggling with, there were not many answers, so I thought for a while but couldn't move from the spot, so I thought "Tek-Tips will solve this for all"!!! I considered it amusing and educational, don't you agree?

Thanks everyone, I have to post it at "Teachers" with references to this place and I am proud of being a member!

Thanks

 

[SilentAiche]

CrystalStart:

I thought several folks hit on the perfect phrase. As one who frequently plays the devil's advocate, I would be just as confortable beginning my point with [blue]"Just for the sake of argument,..."[/blue]

Besides, I suspect few people know the meaning of gainsayer.

Good luck!
Tim

 

[CrystalStart]

SA,
I would say the word is pretty self-content -"gainsay" as you gaining by saying (no matter how correct you are):-D

 

[CajunCenturion]

The previous post is a good reason not to use 'gainsayer' as it implies a meaning - to gain by saying - which I don't think is accurate. To gainsay is to contradict, or to deny.

It is a valid alternative to devil's advocate, at least in practice, but not so in the traditional sense. Traditionally, a devil's advocate argues for an opposing position. To gainsay is to argue against the offered position.

Good Luck
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[ESquared]

One thing about the term devil's advocate is that in many cases it's a positive thing to do. If someone is just gratuitously contradicting you--an annoying thing for sure--then he's not being a very good devil's advocate.

But if you are looking for phrases that emphasize the adversarial side, rather than the help-through-realism side, then:

- Stop raining on my parade.
- Don't burst my bubble.
- Let me have my moment in the spotlight.
- We're brainstorming here--this isn't the time for seeing why things won't work. When we get to that stage I'll come get you since you seem to be so good at it.
- I realize you're trying to help, but you're not.
- Even if it's Pie In The Sky, would it hurt to let me believe in it for one hour?

 

[TheRambler]

>>One thing about the term devil's advocate is that in many cases it's a positive thing to do.
In that case it reminds me of the Socratic method of teaching, maieutics.

Maieutics is a method of teaching introduced by Socrates. It is based on the idea that the truth is latent in the mind of every human being due to his innate reason but has to be "given birth" by questions asked by the teacher and answers given by the student.

The teacher would be like a devil's advocate then, wouldn't he?

 

[RTMCKEE]

How about pessimist?

"that sounds like a great idea Bob, now let me play the part of pessimist. What happens when..."

I prefer not to think of myself as a pessimist, but as an optimist with experience. hehe

RTMCKEE

CM 2.1.1
Prologix R9.05
Modular Messaging 1.1

 

[ESquared]

I would contend that Devil's Advocate isn't about pessimism but about realism, constructive criticism. Wouldn't you rather go with a plan where you've reviewed the drawbacks, than one where no one's thought about any down side? It's a means for galvanizing confidence in something.

 

[CrystalStart]

E2,
so my friends who always saying "this will not gonna work" are actually a good thing?:-D