Actually the report of absence of anything can never prove either the hypothesis nor the null. This is the problem with freepers. We emotionally throw around absurd statements lie if the media reports something it proves the opposite. This is why we are labeled conspiracy nuts as much as the DU
We need to do better with understanding debate and principles of proof and theory. We need to provide unemotional evidence to allow others to be lead to the truth.
We have minimal understanding for logic and rhetoric anymore and I fear it is lost generationally if not permanently.
Unfortunately, public opinion isn't formed through scientific proofs, debate rules, or logic. Most people are turned off by the "effete elite" who try it. I'm a Ted Cruz supporter, but look at what happened to him in the last presidential debates. People tend to believe passionate, persuasive talk from members or leaders of their own tribe, regardless of its truthfulness.
As far as I'm concerned, whenever a media speaker says "unsubstantiated stories of election fraud", I know he's lying. "Debate Rules, and proofs" are irrelevant. And, frankly, I don't care if the media calls me a "conspiracy nut" for it. They're lying about that, too.
“This is the problem with freepers”
“We have minimal understanding for logic and rhetoric anymore and I fear it is lost generationally if not permanently.”
I don’t think your comments are the result of careful thinking. (They seem to be more consistent with posts by false Freepers carrying water for the deep state, with the agenda of denigrating this website.)
Here’s an example of good logic: If false reports in the media are consistently present at a certain percentage, then it’s reasonable to expect false reports at a similar percentage in the future. This is simply a description of common sense which Freepers have in abundance. Formalized “principles of proof and theory” are unnecessary.
If we look more deeply at the nature of knowledge itself, we’ll probably find that it’s commonly understood very well by Freepers.