Personal Attacks and Argumentation

1. 0

   Sooner28posted 11 years ago

   http://www.forwardprogressives.com/alex … o-go-away/
   
   I'm a liberal.  Read anything I've written, and it's obvious.
   
   However, I have a problem with this.  The author of this piece claims:
   
   "This pile of crap is going around promoting the idea that the Boston Marathon bombing is some government conspiracy.
   
   He's saying that the bombing at the Boston Marathon has been conducted under a "false flag."  You see, the term false flag is a naval term from long ago where naval ships would fly flags not of their origin to avoid attack.  They flew these "false flags" to cover up the truth about what kinds of ships they actually were."
   
   The author never, at any point, addresses any of Jones's actual claims.  There is an attempt at guilt by association with a list of alleged "ridiculous beliefs" he has floated in the past, but there is not one argument against his claim about the Boston bombings.
   
   I'm not defending Jones at all.  But this is a perfect illustration of the WRONG way to argue against a position.  Instead of being specific and showing where the disagreement with Jones is, the author engages in ad hominem attacks and guilt by association (even assuming the entire list the author provided is nonsense, it does not necessarily follow that this claim Jones makes is wrong.  For example, if I claim the moon landing was a hoax, and that George Bush is the worst president in recent history, does my claim about Bush become nullified simply because I claim the moon landing was a hoax?  Clearly not!)
   
   This author begs the question at the beginning (by assuming what authorities have said about the Boston bombing is true), and then says Jones is crazy for not believing.  The correct procedure would have been to explain the absurdity of Jones's position as the author sees it, rather than trying to argue by royal decree.  To extend the moon landing example, it would be similar to me claiming people who question the official story are nut jobs because they don't accept the official story.  See how ridiculous of an argument that is?  There is no real engagement at all.
   
   We can all learn and be more vigilant when it comes to addressing people's arguments that are a different political persuasion than our own.

   replyreport
2. 67

   innersmiffposted 11 years ago

   And this person is writing for a website called 'Forward progressives'?? Is vile ad-hominem the 'progressive' thing to do now?

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Sooner28posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I haven't read anything else on it.  I read a lot of liberal sources, but I don't like direct attacks without argument.

      replyreport
3. 67

   innersmiffposted 11 years ago

   Other headlines by this website:
   "Voted for George W Bush? Then just stop talking"
   "Who said it? A Republican or an insane person?"
   
   This is not to be taken seriously. Moving on.

   replyreport
4. 50

   Lie Detectorposted 11 years ago

   I wouldn't recommend visiting this site my computer just started behaving very odd.

   replyreport
   1. 67

      innersmiffposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your computer might be allergic to BS.

      replyreport
      1. 50

         Lie Detectorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         That is completely possible.

         replyreport
   2. 60

      Zelkiiroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Firefox + NoScript + AdBlocker = lol what problems?

      replyreport
      1. 50

         Lie Detectorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Ask Penn and Teller or Jon Stewart.

         replyreport
5. 60

   Zelkiiroposted 11 years ago

   Sounds like someone's bitter at the fact that avoiding computer mishaps is simple and easy.

   replyreport
   1. 50

      Lie Detectorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Says the guy who uses magicians and fake news hosts as stellar commentary on important matters.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         Zelkiiroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Anyone can comment on any issue, as long as they do good research.

         replyreport
         1. 50

            Lie Detectorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I often seek out entertainers for their opinions they are always so grounded in reality.

            replyreport
            1. 60

               Zelkiiroposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Belittling someone's opinion because of their profession?
               
               Sounds like good ol' classic ad hominem to me, which is conveniently what this thread is about!

               replyreport
               1. 50

                  Lie Detectorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Ok, sounds right to me. I'll stand by it.

                  replyreport