Steel-man the position I'm currently inclined to disagree with — for research purposes, not debate.
The position I'm skeptical of:
{{the view, claim, or framework}}
My current take:
{{your skepticism / counter-position}}
What I want:
1. **The strongest formulation** of the position — phrased as a thoughtful expert in the field would phrase it (not the strawman version on Twitter)
2. **The actual evidence base** — peer-reviewed studies, real data, well-respected proponents
3. **What this position gets right** that my view doesn't fully account for
4. **The version of my skepticism** that survives engagement with the steel-man — what should I update toward, what should I hold onto?
5. **A specific test** — what observation would actually decide between the two views?
Don't both-sides this. If after steel-manning, my position is genuinely shakier than I thought, tell me directly.steel-manningepistemologydebate