NationStates Jolt Archive

I just saw the latest entry in Scott Adams' blog (http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/) and for some reason immediately thought of this forum. The following is an excerpt:

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If you are new to the Internet, allow me to explain how to debate in this medium. When one person makes any kind of statement, all you need to do is apply one of these methods to make it sound stupid. Then go on the offensive.

1. Turn someone’s generality into an absolute. For example, if someone makes a general statement that Americans celebrate Christmas, point out that some people are Jewish and so anyone who thinks that ALL Americans celebrate Christmas is stupid. (Bonus points for accusing the person of being anti-Semitic.)

2. Turn someone’s factual statements into implied preferences. For example, if someone mentions that not all Catholic priests are pedophiles, accuse the person who said it of siding with pedophiles.

3. Turn factual statements into implied equivalents. For example, if someone says that Ghandi didn’t eat cows, accuse the person of stupidly implying that cows deserve equal billing with Gandhi.

4. Omit key words. For example, if someone says that people can’t eat rocks, accuse the person of being stupid for suggesting that people can’t eat. Bonus points for arguing that some people CAN eat pebbles if they try hard enough.

5. Assume the dumbest interpretation. For example, if someone says that he can run a mile in 12 minutes, assume he means it happens underwater and argue that no one can hold his breath that long.

6. Hallucinate entirely different points. For example, if someone says apples grow on trees, accuse him of saying snakes have arms and then point out how stupid that is.

7. Use the intellectual laziness card. For example, if someone says that ice is cold, recommend that he take graduate courses in chemistry and meteorology before jumping to stupid conclusions that display a complete ignorance of the complexity of ice.

I just saw the latest entry in Scott Adams' blog (http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/) and for some reason immediately thought of this forum. The following is an excerpt:

--------

If you are new to the Internet, allow me to explain how to debate in this medium. When one person makes any kind of statement, all you need to do is apply one of these methods to make it sound stupid. Then go on the offensive.

1. Turn someone’s generality into an absolute. For example, if someone makes a general statement that Americans celebrate Christmas, point out that some people are Jewish and so anyone who thinks that ALL Americans celebrate Christmas is stupid. (Bonus points for accusing the person of being anti-Semitic.)

2. Turn someone’s factual statements into implied preferences. For example, if someone mentions that not all Catholic priests are pedophiles, accuse the person who said it of siding with pedophiles.

3. Turn factual statements into implied equivalents. For example, if someone says that Ghandi didn’t eat cows, accuse the person of stupidly implying that cows deserve equal billing with Gandhi.

4. Omit key words. For example, if someone says that people can’t eat rocks, accuse the person of being stupid for suggesting that people can’t eat. Bonus points for arguing that some people CAN eat pebbles if they try hard enough.

5. Assume the dumbest interpretation. For example, if someone says that he can run a mile in 12 minutes, assume he means it happens underwater and argue that no one can hold his breath that long.

6. Hallucinate entirely different points. For example, if someone says apples grow on trees, accuse him of saying snakes have arms and then point out how stupid that is.

7. Use the intellectual laziness card. For example, if someone says that ice is cold, recommend that he take graduate courses in chemistry and meteorology before jumping to stupid conclusions that display a complete ignorance of the complexity of ice.

That's great, now if only it didn't apply so well to some peoples mode of debate :(

Or the simple method.

http://www.ytic.com/_images/movies/2005/7/fantastic4a/flame1.jpg

Flame on!

I just saw the latest entry in Scott Adams' blog (http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/) and for some reason immediately thought of this forum. The following is an excerpt:

I wonder how Scott Adams got access to our secret files.;)

6. Hallucinate entirely different points. For example, if someone says apples grow on trees, accuse him of saying snakes have arms and then point out how stupid that is.

lol works for me every time :p

oh i love it. i intend to learn the ways of the masters...

Excellent. Variations on things I'd seen before, but still bloody funny.

... if someone makes a general statement that Americans celebrate Christmas, point out that some people are Jewish and so anyone who thinks that ALL Americans celebrate Christmas is stupid. (Bonus points for accusing the person of being anti-Semitic.). accusing the ether of being anti-Semitic does not work anymore in this forum...no bonus points...no cookies for you :D

Let me prove to you:

Call me anti-Semitic 3 times a day...24/365... and notice how much I will ignore your feeble attacks.

Accuse me of being anti-Semitic 3 times a day...24/365... and notice how much I ignore you feeble attacks.

Hey, that made me come up with a new point:

8. Trick your opponents into flaming and subsequently forum-banning themselves.

Hah! Nice try! :p

Hey, that made me come up with a new point:

8. Trick your opponents into flaming and subsequently forum-banning themselves.

Hah! Nice try! :pno debate Bible is complete without my advice:D

specially for hardcore xtreme fistfigthing kind-of debate :cool:

no debate Bible is complete without my advice:D

specially for hardcore xtreme fistfigthing kind-of debate :cool:
[ smacks OceanDrive2 upside da hed wid a herring! ] Behave! :D

Tar everyone with the same brush: if someone quotes a particular writer, remind them of the most stupid/silly/sick thing that person ever said, and then accuse the poster of believing this (and, if possible, of having intimate relations with Satan).

1. If someone disagrees with you, no matter how nice he says something, accuse him of flaming and report it to the mods.
2. Ad hominems - especially fifteen to twenty in a single post.
3. Change the subject to the poster's political affiliation and ridicule it.
4. Godwin.

Accuse someone of being a syphilitic whore, stick a :) or a ;) on the end, and then claim it was all a joke.

Accuse someone of being a syphilitic whore, stick a :) or a ;) on the end, and then claim it was all a joke.

I prefer suggesting that someone is redolent of a shellfish's infected genitalia. :D

Accuse someone of being a syphilitic whore, stick a :) or a ;) on the end, and then claim it was all a joke.
Why does it seem as though I do that all the time? ;)

[ PS. this was all a joke! :p ]

change the subject to how the democrats suck because they support gun control. refuse to discuss anything else and accuse anyone who wants to talk about the original topic of being against the constitution

Ah yes, some of my favorite debating techniques. I once held off an entire forum of neonazis with them. They just wouldn't give up, though.:headbang:

Ah yes, some of my favorite debating techniques. I once held off an entire forum of neonazis with them. They just wouldn't give up, though.:headbang:
Yeah the yearly spring invasion ... its sillyness

How about: Ignore the context of words in order to deny their meaning in that context.

That's one of my favourites. /sarcasm

When no logical or illogical counters will cover you, find an idealogical opposite and say "They did it too!" ad nauseum.

Link them to a website listing hundreds of logical fallacies, and when they ask what you're accusing them of, reply, "Oh, I think you know."

4. Omit key words. For example, if someone says that people can’t eat rocks, accuse the person of being stupid for suggesting that people can’t eat. Bonus points for arguing that some people CAN eat pebbles if they try hard enough.


Pfft .... salt is a rock. HA!

had to be said

:D