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I hate making long drawn out posts, so I'm trying to keep things short and simple. This is a guide for individuals to learn how to be Devil's Advocates.

What is a devil's advocate?
An devil's advocate is one who argues against a cause or position either for the sake of argument or to help determine its validity. For example, "My role in the campaign is to play devil's advocate to each new policy before it's introduced to the public." This term comes from the Roman Catholic Church, where advocatus diaboli (Latin for "devil's advocate") signifies an official who is appointed to present arguments against a proposed canonization or beatification. It was transferred to wider use in the mid-1700s.

In short if you are a devil's advocate your job is find faults stuff and fight against things like the status quo. You must question the reasoning and the logic against or for a cause. The job of the devil's advocate is to bring another view point and to act as a safeguard.

Feel free to ask questions or add strategies and tactics you want.

I have always enjoyed playing devil's advocate and have a bit of advice. Regardless of your position on a subject, you should always research all sides of an issue before making any statement. you can make a fool of yourself if you don't. If you don't llike it when people play devil's advocate, you should try to predict and address/refute their arguments when you state your own opinion. Not only do help strengthen your position, you also appear more intelligent and well versed. As for those who like taking on the role of the devil's advocate, you have to be willing to risk reputation damage as a result of voicing unpopular opinions. While people shouldn't take arguments against their claims personally and should realize you're just pointing out arguments against/flaws of their position because they exist, but they often assume you personally disagree with them and may take offense. You don't need to believe in the validity of the unpopular position when playing devil's advocate, you just need to point out its existance.

My brother often asks me to play the part of devil's advocate. His last occasion was over him proposing. I appear to have failed as he is now married. How does one apply logic to somethig so illogical as emotions, especially love?

You don't. Personally I would state the vast amounts of logical reason to not get married if I was in your case and avoid the emotional aspects. Things I would state would be the costs, relocation, and the loss of privacy, as well as other things I could think of at the time. And perhaps if you really want to use emotion in your argument, state that emotions can change, love can be lost, and a marriage based only on love end up in divorce due to other issues that come to be, the big one being money. Stating real life example of marriages you know of that ended in divorce would help, especially a couple related to him. Also you could say he is rushing things, and that if he truly loves her he can wait another week, month, or year, before getting married, and if he doesn't its lust and not love, even though using this point would be a low move.

Yes, please try to stay respectful (unless you are talking to a troll than fell free to flame like there is no tomorrow).

I on the other hand try to give credit where credit is do. Even if I'm fighting against someone if I feel they made a good point I let them know. Then I tar them the new one for trying to make me lose the argument. lol

Wow, thats true. I feel the same way. Because it's true that the people who put out narrow-minded statement just for srength, attack at those who may have agood point against them...