Steel-Manning Core rule: Engage the best form of the opposing case, not a weak one. If your position survives that, reaffirm; if not, update. When to Use - About to reject a proposal, design, or alternative approach. - Inclined to agree with the user/plan and risk sycophancy — construct the best case against first. - Design review, architecture debate, or conflict where trade-offs are real. - Validating your own preferred decision before locking it (strongest-countercase check). When NOT to Use - Settled fact, security anti-pattern, or violated hard requirement — correct it; do not invent a d…