Delivery depends on the people you are talking to. Plain and simple...that example I used was for a guy in the office...and others like him...who want to be your friend and friends with "the other side" by straddling the fence with niceties. Predictably, when I stood ground, put the "friendship" 2nd to principal...he came back to "mend fences" and..... leaning towards our side. Ridicule is used by socialists/Marxists...plan to use it for yourself because it works used properly in the right situation as does breaking fellowship. Nothing quite like standing for your principals...if the "friend" runs off I didn't want him anyway and if it causes him to come to our side then we have the proverbial fair-weather friend...just make sure he sees your storm clouds and if he comes to our side he gets fair weather so that if and when he is ridiculed by the other side and ostracized by the other side that it strengthens the leanings towards us. Play it as you see it and how it goes.
If they don't come to your side....their principals may be strong and probably at opposition to yours. No need to be a patsy and let the other side see you mean business...they may just decide it's not worth their effort for whatever reason they divine. Don't waste time trying to "convert" someone unless you are herding sheep into your pen.
For over 50 years I've seen the debris of "trying to reach a consensus" or "trying to come to an agreement" or whatever "get along" type technique is out there for now...maybe it is the old "you have to give something to get something routine". I am sick of compromise...it has the both the stench and evidence of the death of a nation....our nation. No need to just punch someone in the nose for no reason...but then again there is no need to compromise in the fools game that appears to be a debate that it is not.
Sometimes say nothing. Sometimes say a little. Sometimes say a lot. Find a way to always say whatever needs to be said and never, ever, compromise your principals. If you must debate with sheep who can be swayed then find common ground on definitions of truth, honesty, etc...then use those definitions to highlight the other side's weaknesses.
This is an incremental game that has been going on for decades. We will not recover what has been lost overnight.
With edits underlined:
Compromise Necessity is the plea for leading to every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of followers tyrants; it is the creed of those who abdicate leadership slaves.
-William Pitt, British prime-minister (1759-1806)