In Wilderness Spa, a diverse group of travelers must band together to survive the harsh Alaskan conditions. Fireside chats between the characters take place in the midst of danger, uncertainty, and possible death, maintained their dignity with communal discourse and reasoning. The following guidelines helped preserve their civility.

Logic is defined as reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity. This is a popular definition. Science, likewise, can be defined as the pursuit and application of knowledge, and an understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. The scientific method prescribes exacting orderly steps to find the truth: Identify a problem, collect and study data, form a hypothesis, and empirically test the hypothesis. When multiple tests yield identical results, the hypothesis may stand the test of time. Inconsistent results reveal either testing errors, or an invalid hypothesis. Science depends on the strict principles of validity, as defined by logic, and the truth must run the gamut of the scientific method.

Points of discussion are referred to as arguments, meaning reasons, or contentions. An argument presented with the knowledge that it is not valid is a lie. All subsequent arguments supported by a lie must be false as well, as a house built on a faulty foundation cannot stand. Questioning every argument is not rude. If the argument is presented in good faith, the presenter will welcome an opportunity to offer enlightenment and additional supporting data. Only a presenter offering an erroneous argument, possibly with devious intentions, will take offense at questioning.

My goal when writing discussions in Wilderness Spa was to explore the best ways to talk about difficult subjects, especially when the characters held such diverse opinions. I am passionate about understanding different viewpoints, but to discusses these differences in a logical, considerate manner should be a priority.