How to spot (and respond to) a lame, lame argument


	How to spot (and respond to) a lame, lame argument

zizzy

4-20-2009 5:00 PM

657 views

11 Comments |

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4-20-2009 6:33 PM

Antara

what about your clip regarding the "harm" statement that never was?

Was that not "lame"?

4-21-2009 4:01 PM

zizzy

antara - see clip

4-22-2009 5:12 PM

Antara

see what?

4-22-2009 5:16 PM

zizzy

Wow, are you being deliberately obtuse?

4-22-2009 5:18 PM

ratilfar

I call it the "There is someone always worse than me" argument or "no rapist can go to jail as long as their is a serial killer on the loose".

4-22-2009 6:09 PM

Antara

lol, zizzy, just explain how this applies to your "harm" rant?

4-22-2009 6:11 PM

Antara

ah, it's ok, you finally responded over there. Just saw it

4-27-2009 2:53 AM

murieleileen

Thanks zizzy. This will help me in dealing with smokers.

4-27-2009 6:53 PM

zizzy

You're welcome murieleileen.

5-5-2009 2:27 PM

apgalea

Zizzy:
Clever. I like it.

5-6-2009 4:18 PM

zizzy

Apgalea:
I'm glad.

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<div style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="see clips that are hot right now"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_embed/56dbdef3-6110-4679-a7cb-88fb5f62233c/1A94F769-5760-4BD8-A8C9-7E24EA37FEF2/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-how-to-spot-a-lame-lame-argument-1667373.html" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-how-to-spot-a-lame-lame-argument-1667373.html" style="font-size: 11px;">www.independent.co.uk</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-how-to-spot-a-lame-lame-argument-1667373.html"><P>
As a rhetorical trick, it is simple. Anyone can do it, and we are all tempted 
  sometimes. When you have lost an argument - when you can't justify your 
  case, and it is crumbling in your hands - you snap back: "But what about x?" 
</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-how-to-spot-a-lame-lame-argument-1667373.html"><P>
The best way to respond to what-aboutery is to state a simple truth. Say it 
  slowly: there can be more than one bad thing in the world. You can oppose 
  American atrocities, and Chinese atrocities. You can be critical of Israel, 
  and of Islamism. You can condemn Dubai's system of slavery, and the fact 
  people are detained without trial in Britain. You can stand independent of 
  governments - including your own - and criticize anyone who chooses to abuse 
  human rights. The world is not divided into a Block of Light, and a Block of 
  Darkness; you don't have to pick a tribe and defend its every action.
</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-how-to-spot-a-lame-lame-argument-1667373.html"><P>
So whenever you hear the cry "But what about?!", you can reply: what about we 
  ignore this crude attempt to change the subject, and focus on the subject in 
  hand?
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