“You Didn’t Address My Point.”
“You didn’t address my point.”
Has anyone ever said this to you, while you’re sitting there trying to figure out where they even made a point?
You reread their comment. You reread the thread. You see their opinions, some vibes, implications, maybe even indignation, but no clear claim you could agree or disagree with. You don’t want to dignify what they said by calling it an argument, because an argument requires structure. What they offered wasn’t that.
This confusion is extremely common, and it usually comes from not knowing the difference between having an opinion, making a claim, and making a point.
The Three Things People Confuse
1. An Opinion
An opinion is a personal attitude, feeling, or preference.
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“I don’t like where this is going.”
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“This feels wrong to me.”
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“I think this is harmful.”
Opinions are allowed. They are not right or wrong. But they are also not addressable. No one is obligated to respond to them, refute them, or debate them. At most, they can be acknowledged.
2. A Claim
A claim is an assertion about the world.
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“This policy will increase inequality.”
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“That study is biased.”
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“The system is corrupt.”
Claims can become points, but only if they’re specified. Vague claims still leave everyone else guessing what exactly is being asserted, why, and under what conditions it would be false.
3. A Point (or Argument)
A point is a claim stated clearly enough that someone else can directly engage with it.
At minimum, a point:
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States what is being asserted
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Makes clear what the claim depends on
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Implies what would count as evidence for or against it
If someone can reasonably say “I disagree with A because B,” then you’ve made a point.
If they have to guess what you meant, you haven’t.
How to Make a Point
If you want others to address what you’re saying, try this simple checklist:
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State the claim plainly Avoid implication. Say the thing.
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Anchor it to something observable or testable What facts, outcomes, or mechanisms does it rely on?
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Limit the scope Broad, sweeping statements are harder to engage than narrow ones.
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Make disagreement possible If no one could tell how to disagree (or agree) with you, you haven’t finished the thought.
Example:
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Not a point: “This is just another example of the system failing.”
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A point: “This policy fails because it rewards X behavior while penalizing Y, which historically leads to Z outcome.”
Now someone can respond to that.
A Useful Rule of Thumb
If someone says, “You didn’t address my point,” ask yourself:
Could they restate their claim in one clear sentence that could be proven wrong?
If not, there was no point to address, only an opinion they wanted validated.
And validation is optional.
Clear points invite disagreement. Vague statements invite confusion. If you want engagement instead of frustration, make the point first.
Bookmark this article.
The next time someone says, “You didn’t address my point,” you can share this with them and ask them, politely, to restate their intention more clearly.
If they really have a point, this article gives them everything they need to make it. If they don’t, you’ll both save a lot of time.
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