BUT - Contrast and Objection Handler
Input: $ARGUMENTS
Core Principles
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“But” is a signal, not a problem. When someone says “X, but Y,” they’re surfacing a tension they’ve noticed. The tension is valuable information. Don’t resolve it prematurely — classify it first.
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Six types of “but.” Not all “buts” are the same: exception, contradiction, risk, tradeoff, scope limit, and emotional resistance. Each needs different handling. Routing a tradeoff to truth-testing wastes time. Routing an emotion to logic makes it worse.
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Sometimes the “but” IS the point. In “This plan is great, but it requires $2M we don’t have,” the main claim is setup. The “but” is what matters. Don’t assume the first clause is always primary.
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Both sides can be true. “We need to move fast, but we also need quality” is not a contradiction — it’s a tension. Tensions need navigation, not resolution. Not everything resolves into one side winning.
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The hidden “but.” Sometimes the user’s real objection isn’t stated. “I think we should do X” (unstated: “but I’m worried about Y”). If the stated objection feels too mild for the user’s energy, look for the hidden one.
Phase 1: Extraction
[B1] RAW_STATEMENT: [the full "but" statement, quoted]
[B2] CLAIM_A: [the part before "but" — stated neutrally]
[B3] CLAIM_B: [the part after "but" — stated neutrally]
[B4] PRIMARY_WEIGHT: [A is primary | B is primary | equal weight]Primary Weight Test
Which clause carries more weight?
- If removing A leaves the statement intact → B is primary, A is setup
- If removing B leaves the statement intact → A is primary, B is qualifier
- If removing either changes meaning → equal weight (genuine tension)
Phase 2: Tension Classification
[B5] TENSION_TYPE: [exception | contradiction | risk | tradeoff | scope_limit | emotional_resistance]
[B6] CLASSIFICATION_EVIDENCE: [what makes it this type]| Type | Pattern | Example | Resolution Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exception | A is generally true, B is a case where it’s not | ”This works, but not for edge case X” | Scope A; handle exception |
| Contradiction | A and B can’t both be true | ”Revenue is up, but we’re losing money” | Test which is accurate |
| Risk | A is the plan, B is what could go wrong | ”Let’s launch, but what if it crashes?” | Risk assessment |
| Tradeoff | A and B are both desirable but compete | ”I want speed, but also quality” | Tradeoff navigation |
| Scope limit | A is true but only within bounds | ”This applies, but only in our market” | Define scope explicitly |
| Emotional resistance | A is logical, B is a feeling | ”I know I should, but I don’t want to” | Acknowledge emotion; examine source |
Phase 3: Hidden Objection Check
[B7] HIDDEN_OBJECTION_CHECK:
ENERGY_MATCH: [does the stated objection match the user's energy? yes/no]
POSSIBLE_HIDDEN: [what might the real objection be?]
EVIDENCE: [why suspect a hidden objection]If ENERGY_MATCH is no:
[B8] LIKELY_HIDDEN_OBJECTION: [what the user might actually be worried about]
[B9] SURFACE_QUESTION: [question to surface the real objection]Phase 4: Resolution Routing
Based on tension type, route to the appropriate skill:
| Tension Type | Route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exception | → /exc or direct handling | Scope the claim; handle the exception |
| Contradiction | → /claim $B1 | Test which claim is accurate |
| Risk | → /fla or /prm | Assess risk; plan mitigation |
| Tradeoff | → /decide or /vcd | Navigate the tradeoff with criteria |
| Scope limit | → /dd or direct scoping | Define the boundary explicitly |
| Emotional resistance | → /emotion $B1 | Acknowledge and examine the feeling |
| Hidden objection | → Surface first, then re-classify | Can’t route until real objection is known |
[B10] RECOMMENDED_ROUTE: /skill-id — [why this skill resolves this tension type]
[B11] INVOCATION: /skill-id [specific arguments]
[B12] ALTERNATIVE: /skill-id — [if first choice doesn't resolve]Phase 5: Output
"BUT" ANALYSIS
==============
ORIGINAL: [quoted statement]
CLAIM A: [before "but"]
CLAIM B: [after "but"]
PRIMARY: [A | B | equal]
TENSION TYPE: [type]
EVIDENCE: [why this type]
HIDDEN OBJECTION: [none detected | possible hidden objection described]
RESOLUTION:
APPROACH: [what to do with this tension]
→ INVOKE: /skill-id [specific invocation]
WHY: [why this resolves the tension]
IF BOTH TRUE (tension, not contradiction):
NAVIGATE: [how to hold both without forcing resolution]Failure Modes
| Failure | Signal | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Type misclassification | Tradeoff treated as contradiction | Check: can both be true simultaneously? If yes, not a contradiction |
| A always treated as primary | ”But” clause dismissed as qualifier | Apply primary weight test — sometimes B is the point |
| Premature resolution | Tension resolved before classification | Classify first, resolve second |
| Logic for emotion | Emotional resistance addressed with reasoning | If tension type is emotional, route to /emotion, not /claim |
| Hidden objection missed | User’s energy doesn’t match stated objection | Apply energy match check |
| False contradiction | Both-true tension treated as one-must-be-wrong | Check for tradeoff or scope limit before assuming contradiction |
Depth Scaling
| Depth | Classification Rigor | Hidden Objection Check | Resolution Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x | Type only | No | 1 route |
| 2x | Type + evidence | Energy match check | 2 routes |
| 4x | Type + evidence + test | Full hidden check + surfacing question | 3 routes with conditions |
| 8x | Type + evidence + test + reframe | Full check + both-true navigation | All applicable routes |
Default: 2x. These are floors.
Pre-Completion Checklist
- Both claims extracted and stated neutrally
- Primary weight assessed (not assumed A is primary)
- Tension type classified with evidence
- Hidden objection check performed (energy match)
- Routing matches tension type (not one-size-fits-all)
- If both-true: navigation approach provided (not forced resolution)
- Invocation includes specific arguments
Integration
- Use from: natural language parsing of user statements
- Routes to:
/claim,/decide,/fla,/emotion,/vcd,/dddepending on tension type - Complementary:
/it(processes “I think” part),/nsa(processes uncertainty) - Differs from
/claim: claim tests truth; but classifies tension type first - Differs from
/decide: decide handles decisions; but handles the broader category of tensions