That Word. (I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.) [Tumblr Edition] P.1
- Ad Hominem:
What you seem to think: The ad hominem fallacy encompasses baseless attacks on character. I’ve provided a lot of evidence about how my judgment of the opponent is true. I’ve committed no fallacy.
What it is: Ad hominem fallacy occurs when there is an attempt to link the validity of a premise to a characteristics of the opponent. The ad hominem fallacy doesn’t become less of a fallacy because the personal attack was true.
- Bigot:
What you seem to think: I can use this as a go to attack against an oppressive white person that doesn’t recognize they are being oppressive by ignoring privilege.
What it is: A bigot is compromised of two things. A prejudice or hatred, and an intolerance of any differing opinions. Prejudice has never been the exclusive providence of privilege.
- Racist:
What you seem to think: Someone that disagrees that there is still legal or social racial oppression, or disagrees with specific methods used to bring about racial equality.
What is it: A racist believes that one race is inherently better than another. A person being correct or incorrect in his assertions about current state of equality or how to get there from here are immaterial in determining if they are racist.
- Tone Argument:
What you seem to think: Someone tells me that by calling someone a “douche fuck” or a “shit waffle” I’ve invalidated my argument in the debate. That’s tone argument and it’s unfair because you have no right to police my right to be angry and speak with emotion.
What it is: Tone Argument is telling someone they are not allowed to express certain emotions in their writing and still have their writing and opinions considered valid. When it’s used it’s just as poor of an argument as the ad hominem attack. It’s important to remember however that pointing out another person’s ad hominem is not tone argument.
- Troll:
What you seem to think: Every person that disagrees with my world view, submits an alternate stand point to my ask box, or directly reblogs me with a contradicting opinion.
What it is: A troll is someone posting off topic or deliberately vile arguments that they may or may not really believe, exclusively for the kicks they get out of seeing your blood pressure rise. Disagreement alone doesn’t make a troll.
