<i>&quot;The point is to get to &#x27;truths&#x27; everyone agrees upon.&quot;</i><p>That is actually a psychological textbook trick - you are more productive in persuasion when you first manage to make your targets agreeing with you. From there you build upon whatever is on your agenda. The important part when doing so in the article&#x27;s context is to make yourself look impartial, which in itself has an effect of preventing further group tensions.