A right-wing rhetorical trick:

[neuvocat]

Ok, some of you may know that I get in to it from time to time via e-mail with some RW co-workers.

One thing that the right-wingers like to do is "broaden" a discussion by using an analogy that is completely designed to suit their argument. Today we were talking symbolic gestures after I had asked why Bush never went to the funeral of even a single service member.

Someone kept asking how Bush should be expected to attend the services of one service member over the other and be expected to avoid patriotism. I said it would be better than not doing so at all.

This is where the "broadening" came in. The other person said "why stop there? Why not expect Bush to go to the funeral of every american who died?"

Of course the discussion was about U.S. troops. Whenever someone gives you a BS analogy like that, just go ahead and call the person on it and point out why such an analogy would be inappropriate.

After all, this other person said he was through with the discussion after he couldn't make his "point".

[StandWatie]

1. not right wing actually..

reductio ad absurdum is an old, old, rhetorical device.

on edit: oddly enough though it IS the name of a conservative website :shrug:

[neuvocat]

5. OOOHHHH!!!! Tell me more!

What other such devices lurk out there? I've taken a logic course but didn't know that trick had such an exotic name.

(Seriously)

[markbark]

7. Here's a whole laundry list of 'em

http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/index.htm

That said.... perhaps it's better to call a spade a spade. Rather than "reductio ad absurdum" just say "BULLSHIT!" :evilgrin:

--MAB

[neuvocat]

10. That kicks ass!

I will find that most useful.

[hang a left]

14. thanks for the ammo

[kainah]

2. Their favorite trick is to ask their own question & answer that

Rummy's a master of that one. But, you're right, they do love to broaden subjects out to absurdity.

BTW, in your discussion, I would have given them that, yes, it might be a bit tough to choose which funeral to attend. But, on the other hand, why has he not even gone to Andrews or Dover AFB to be there when any of the caskets have arrived?

[Fuzz]

3. Had a similar experience today

The discussion was about unions, Bush's new policy regarding overtime pay, etc. I posted some thought regarding unions and got the following reply.

"Explain to me how a union is going to benefit a $75,000 a year tech worker?"

When that was not even part of the discussion, nor where the problem really is.

'tis typical.

[DieboldMustDie]

16. Well, providing something in the way of job security comes to mind.

[wuushew]

4. I have always been able to out debate conservatives, even when drunk

The key is superior knowledge, a quick wit, and not allowing them to high-jack the conversation.


That said their is a big differnce between debate and argument. Converting people to liberalism is very hard in this country. I have decided to go half-way and promote apathy. Atleast its one less vote for Bush.

[neuvocat]

9. No doubt.

Let's say you quote an "author" like Couter or Limbaugh out of their book. Then their fans will say you don't have the right context. Same goes if said quote is found in a news story, liberal media and all that.

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. And absurd hypotheticals

Saw this one yesterday:
RW: If an asteroid was going to hit the Earth, tree-huggers would oppose any effort to prevent it.

Huh?

[zbdent]

8. And conservatives would be trying to

sell land on the asteroid.

[Poisonskin23]

11. ...

... Or tickets to the event.

[wuushew]

12. The end of the world has been rescheduled......for now

Sept. 2 — After sounding the alarm about a kilometer-wide asteroid, astronomers said Tuesday that further data eliminated the possibility of a catastrophic collision in 2014. This week’s alert followed the up-and-down course that is typical for observations of near-Earth objects.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/960340.asp?0cv=CB20

[zbdent]

13. and blaming the liberals

who, incidentally, are probably the ones who actually come up with the stuff you see on Star Trek, since we are always trying to better ourselves.

Of course, our bosses claim our ideas and market them as their own creations.

[sam sarrha]

17. Not to worry... they dont usually even see them untill several weeks

after they just missed...

[Warren Stuart]

15. You can try agreeing with him

And then throw in a non sequitur.

Such as "I see your point, he would probably start crying if he did go, who wants to see a sobbing commander in chief anyway?"

Fight stupidity with stupidity.

[sam sarrha]

18. Thanks for the advice..! I will try next time, there isn' any other way

to deal with them. I have never seen so many people so brain washed. I am afraid to fall asleep because some one might put a pod beside me and i would wake up like them....... and I'm sooo sleepy...

[burr]

19. It's an old trick...

politicians talk about how we must support our troops by supporting the war, and then they skip the funeral. When it gets too hot, get out of the graveyard! To bad these soldiers who gave up their lives for us can't do this.

Shrub is afraid of having to take responsibility for his mistakes. I will never forget the hell Clinton got whenever he attended these events. And the neocon nuts always were there to scream their insults and fowl statements during the funeral.

How patriotic, but where are they now?