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People who only argue in extremes
cathrin
Posts: 4,968 Forum Member
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Anyone else find this really frustrating? I've met a few people with whom it's impossible to have a reasonable balanced discussion about anything, because they always go to extremes, especially around health issues. For example, if someone's talking about the importance of eating healthily and not becoming obese, they'll pull a sarcastic face and say "Oh, I suppose we've all got to be a twig-thin size zero have we?" Or if someone says it's dangerous to, say, smoke around babies, they'll say "Oh, right, so I suppose all kids should be wrapped in cotton wool?" A lot of journalists do it too!
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Ah yes, that's a favourite on the animal threads.
"I'm not thinking about animals because there are children suffering" as if the two are mutually exclusive and you can't tackle more than one problem at any one time.
Absolutely spot on! That's exactly what is is. Another silly arguing trick--often used by exacty the same people--is the one where they react as if they've been bullied or attacked, when in fact the other person has just politely disagreed with them. So, they say "I think XYZ" and you politely say, "I don't agree, I think ABC,"...And then they go all defensive and victim-y, and say something like "There's no need to be rude" or "Stop shouting at me!" (even though you weren't rude and didn't shout!") This allows them to play the victim, so the disagreement becomes about that, rather than the actual subject. The worst example of the "pretend-I've-just-been-attacked" trick is Jeremy Kyle. If anyone shows the slightest signs of challenging his point of view or disagreeing--however politely and respectfully--he smirks knowingly at the audience, and then snarls something like "Don't you start on me, mate, I haven't even got out of first gear yet." It creates the illusion that the other person has been aggressive and Needs Putting In Their Place, when they haven't actually done anything wrong. Horrible trick!
Oh yes! ....Or justify some ridiculously dangerous/risky/foolhardy activity on the grounds that "I could fall under a bus tomorrow!"
Spot on. A lot of people can't actually defend or back up their statements and then follow it with saying they have the right to free speech
Very true. If someone doesn't like the fact that 2 people disagree with their viewpoint it's very easy to turn it into a 'ganging up' situation where the actual points being debated are lost.
There are shades of grey too. It's not as simple as one person being right and the other therefore being wrong.
Yes.....politicians use this trick a lot when they want to dodge an awkward question. They'll turn on the interviewer and say "Stop hectoring me! You're being very rude! I'm not going to be bullied!" and keep that up until the interviewer runs out of time!
No there isn't...
Oh, absolutely. And if you suggest that Muslims aren't taking over the country, you're a fully-fledged supporter of Sharia Law who wants to kill everyone in the west.
Yes! It usually goes something like this: "Oh, right, so I suppose you think we should give them a pat on the head and a free luxury holiday in a 5-star hotel?"
Hey!! Stop grinning and smirking. You are just trying to ridicule our opinion. :mad: Can't you argue your point without trying to belittle us? You've clearly lost the argument.
Blatently there are or we'd have no need for differing sentances for convicted criminals.
Stop hectoring me!
Yes, I wonder of people realise how hackneyed that is. But it always managed to deflect the discussion.