The Tricks People Use to Avoid Debate

[cleanhippie]

A proper argument takes intellectual vigor, nimbleness, and sustained attention. If carried on long enough, it can push both parties to a deeper level of understanding. Oxford debaters hack away at each other for something like two hours. Socrates could sometimes go on for weeks. But who has that kind of time anymore? Better to just shut things down quickly, using one of a new array of trump cards.

Want to avoid a debate? Just tell your opponent to check his privilege. Or tell him he’s slut-shaming or victim-blaming, or racist, or sexist, or homophobic, or transphobic, or Islamophobic, or cisphobic, or some other creative term conveying that you are simply too outraged by the argument to actually engage it. Or, on the other side of the coin, accuse him of being the PC thought police and then snap your laptop smugly.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/07/there-will-be-no-debate/395252/?utm_source=atlfb

Jesus, how often do we see this happen here? Especially when it comes to religion...

[skepticscott]

1. Or just hit alert

Make shit up, and hope for a jury that will swallow bullshit.

[kairos12]

2. In a world on Snapchat and Instagram vigorous debate has perished. What??? You disagree.

Sound of me slamming computer down.