Splendid. Here is a perfect example of a rational reason to be rational. I did say someone would be bound to come up with that.

I don't understand your all X is Y comment - I understand the logical fallacy, but not why you think it's relevant.

You said..."To evaluate claims, we must use the best tools of reasoning that are available to us?" You might, but not everybody does. Why should we always use reasoning? Not everybody does. And some of us mean not to......

I am still messing about - I do believe that rationality is the right thing to do. But some are deadly serious when they say that your use of reason blinds you to the important stuff. My point is that you cannot prove them wrong, for the very applicability of proof on such matters is what is at issue. Obviously they won't accept that your proof is a good answer. They are right - it is only relevant insofar as argument itself is relevant, which is what you are disagreeing about !

Irrationally, I decided I'd upvote you because your reasoning is just as wrong as mine.