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Tem42 comments on Avoiding strawmen - Less Wrong Discussion

0 Post author: casebash 17 June 2016 08:20AM

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Comment author: Tem42 17 June 2016 03:40:40PM *  0 points [-]

Assuming that you are engaged in conversation/argument/debate with a specific target, perhaps the best way to edit out spurious strawmen is to mentally append "except in this case...." to any objection.

Thus:

Them: "It's important to be yourself."

You: "Except in this case, because John is a psychopath."

(Or, You: "Except in this case, because John is a fine, upstanding young guy... oh... nevermind.")

Not only should this eliminate most straw men, it should help keep the discussion on track.