Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Debating a liberal
wnd.com ^ | 5/2/2016 | Burt Prelutsky

Posted on 05/03/2016 5:25:07 AM PDT by rktman

Over the past few decades, I’ve made a conscious effort to avoid liberals. I realize it’s intolerant of me, but I find it next to impossible to associate with people who support the politicians I believe are actively and intentionally destroying America. Even I can only talk about baseball for just so long.

One of the few liberals I have retained cordial relations with is a former agent of mine. He is without a doubt the only agent I ever had that I liked. Believe me, in most cases, you really don’t want to be seen in public with these people.

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: intolerant
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last
LOL! Like wrestling with pigs. They like the stench and mud more than you do. Wasted breath and wasted time trying to talk to/convince libs. After all, our thoughts and ideas are all lies. Their's are based on truth and facts. Mostly made up but..... Thanks, Burt, for the effort anyway.
1 posted on 05/03/2016 5:25:08 AM PDT by rktman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rktman

It’s the astonishing descent into vitriol and name-calling that repels me.


2 posted on 05/03/2016 5:31:26 AM PDT by karatemom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

“Debating a liberal”

Good luck with that. Try ‘debasing’ them instead. It’s the only way.
You have to send them home practically bleeding from the ass before they’ll have any respect for anyone else’s opinion.


3 posted on 05/03/2016 5:36:44 AM PDT by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman
Exactly, why bother?

It's like playing chess with a pigeon. They crap all over the board, knock the pieces over, and still strut around afterwards like they won.

4 posted on 05/03/2016 5:37:36 AM PDT by wbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

http://orthodoxnet.com/blog/2013/11/twenty-five-signs-that-youre-arguing-with-leftists/


5 posted on 05/03/2016 5:38:05 AM PDT by Mechanicos (Trump is for America First. Cruz is for America Last. It's that simple.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wbill

http://s1319.photobucket.com/user/jrrtknight/media/ArguingwithLeftists_zpsee838fbc.jpg.html


6 posted on 05/03/2016 5:40:13 AM PDT by Mechanicos (Trump is for America First. Cruz is for America Last. It's that simple.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: karatemom
It’s the astonishing descent into vitriol and name-calling that repels me.

Which is what has been going on here, Trumpsters toward Cruzers and Cruzers towards Trumpsters, and it has made me sick here too. There are reasoned heads here on both sides, but they can't be heard over the vitriol and name-calling. We expect it from the left because to them feelings are more important than facts, and has been since the early 1800s and Romanticism, but we're supposed to be better than this.

7 posted on 05/03/2016 5:46:51 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rktman
LOL! Like wrestling with pigs. They like the stench and mud more than you do. Wasted breath and wasted time trying to talk to/convince libs. After all, our thoughts and ideas are all lies. Their's are based on truth and facts. Mostly made up but..... Thanks, Burt, for the effort anyway.

The reality is that liberals LIKE the idea of socialism. They LIKE the idea of a planned society. They think their towering intelligence will give them greater power and influence in such a system.

They are conditioned to discount data inconvenient data, not because they don't believe it, but because admitting to believing it would hamper the advancement of socialism. They will no more concede the inconvenient facts, than a lawyer would admit his client is a guilty SOB.

8 posted on 05/03/2016 6:03:50 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big government is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chajin

Well said


9 posted on 05/03/2016 6:07:13 AM PDT by zencycler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rktman
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” Sarah Cook

“The kind of man who wants the government to adopt and enforce his ideas is always the kind of man whose ideas are idiotic.” ― H.L. Mencken

“Yes," Vorkosigan agreed, "I could take over the universe with this army if I could ever get all their weapons pointed in the same direction.” ― Lois McMaster Bujold

“Thanks anyway,' Vanderdecker repeated, and wandered off to have a stare at the sea. It was his equivalent to beating his head repeatedly against a wall.” ― Tom Holt

10 posted on 05/03/2016 6:09:15 AM PDT by New Jersey Realist (Home of the Free Because of the Brave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Debate a Liberal? It’s like trying to kill an ant with a bowling ball.


11 posted on 05/03/2016 6:11:36 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What is freedom? To have the will to be responsible for one's self. "M. Stirner)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wbill
DiscussionwithaLiberal photo DiscussionwithLiberals_zps9lrgf4cg.jpg
12 posted on 05/03/2016 6:19:08 AM PDT by Col Freeper (Liberals: Devoted members of the "Church of the Eternally Offended".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: chajin

Oh my goodness I was going to point that out! And some of the threads on the religious forum...my oh my! Although those have gotten somewhat better. It’s like a verbal boxing match.


13 posted on 05/03/2016 6:19:42 AM PDT by karatemom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rktman
Arguing with a liberal... If you are actually trying to have a real discussion, bring out information and have both parties walk away enlightened with something to think about ... Well, you're going to be frustrated and sorely disappointed. Liberals simply do not provide that kind of sounding board for real debate, real discussion.

However, if you are in the mood and have the time, arguing with a liberal can be great sport. Well, maybe if you're of a certain mindset. I admit I watch "fail" videos online too. Maybe it is a character flaw of mine but I find it funny when people do stupid things. So naturally arguing with liberals is just a verbal/written extension of watching other people fail. Watch someone try to skateboard off the roof, or have a liberal try to defend islam as a religion of peace...both funny, both going to end up with someone dazed and confused.

You must be prepared - not just by knowing your subject. Facts, figures, reason won't get you too far. You have to be prepared for the whole experience. This is actually where the entertainment value comes in. Merely crushing someone's position with logic and data isn't much fun and doesn't take too long. You have to be prepared for the typical tactics used by liberals in debates/arguments.

First, you are never going to debate just one issue. As soon as you pin a liberal down with irrefutable facts and logic, they will deflect off and change the subject. We see that even in the short example in this article. Nailed on bammy being raised a muslim, the liberal deflects off into a previous article, completely different topic - all just to put their opponent on the defensive. The author here artfully addresses that, then smoothly transitions back to the original topic. You really have 3 choices when such a tangent comes up. Allow the liberal to drift off into that area if you feel prepared to defeat them on that topic too. Or you can rebound them back into the original topic smoothly as this author did. Or you can simply call them out on the attempted topic switch, a more aggressive and confrontational approach. Somewhat related to this is the strawman fallacy. Liberals will keep trying to reframe the debate and steer you into having to defending something else.

There are a number of falacies in logical argument, and if you debate enough liberals you'll see nearly all of them hauled out and tried on for size. Some typical ones you should be prepared for:

Ad Hominem attacks. This is how you'll know you are winning an argument with a liberal. In particular, if this liberal is not a friend, expect them sooner or later (probably sooner) to get around to a very personal attack against you.

Bandwagon argument. Liberals buy in to the liberal agenda and outlook. They get cloistered and only really accept information from other liberals. Pretty soon they convince themselves everyone agrees and feels this way on a topic. So when you don't, they'll come at you with this bandwagon theme - "But *everyone* knows xyz..." So? Everyone knew the world was flat. Everyone knew man couldn't fly.

Similar to that is the appeal to authority fallacy. Rather than the masses, they'll simply pick one "expert" that agrees with them and use that example over and over. Experts are wrong all the time. Experts built the Titanic. Experts said we were entering an ice age in the 1970s. Experts said Verrazano Narrows bridge was a good design. But of course to a liberal, their expert is better than your expert.

They'll try to "appeal to the stone" - simply ignore and dismiss anything they disagree with. You'll see this often if discussing illegals. They simple ignore all the detrimental effects.

Another goodie liberals will trot out, probably as a side-effect of their bandwagon argument, is begging the question. Since they believe "everyone" knows xyz and agrees with them, many times their arguments simple start from the point of assuming their position is correct.

Then there's cherry picking. Just using the facts and tidbits that support their viewpoint. You'll see this is in the climate debate too.

Then there's the echo chamber fallacy. We see that in this article. The liberal refused to accept the author's information and instead came back with it labeled as "his opinion." Liberals rarely accept information from anyone other than other liberals. It conflicts with their own indoctrination and world-view. It starts to make their whole world view crumble.

Then there's the "Ergo Decedo" argument. Often tied in with the ad hominem attack. If you agree with someone, and that someone has ever said or done anything controversial then you are guilty too. "What, you raised your hand to ask a question? Hitler raised his right hand, you must be a fascist!" Yes, it really is that silly at times.

There's also the "goal post move." As you beat down a liberal with facts and figures they'll claim that doesn't really prove anything. "So what if socialism has failed before...So what if socialism has actually failed 100% of the time...it hasn't been tried everywhere by everyone yet!" Yes, really that simple. No amount of contradicting evidence is ever enough for the truly indoctrinated.

Oh, and one other popular one with liberals, the non-sequitur. Honestly, sometimes you just cannot fathom how their minds work, how they can link certain things together. Or we could toss in it's cousin the "red herring" - where they just pull in random sh... er "stuff" which kind of goes along with deflecting off onto other issues once they are losing on this one.

14 posted on 05/03/2016 6:19:55 AM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Debating a liberal = drilling a hole in water.


15 posted on 05/03/2016 6:19:56 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Waste of time. Part of the disease is the complete absence of accountability or even memory. Without actual events to tie an argument to, there is no argument. Only philosophy. I smile, nod my head and when they are out of range, laugh.


16 posted on 05/03/2016 6:22:48 AM PDT by anton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: New Jersey Realist
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. (in other words, don't argue with an idiot less you be mistaken for the idiot.)

Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

17 posted on 05/03/2016 6:23:21 AM PDT by MosesKnows (Love Many, Trust Few, and Always Paddle Your Own Canoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: chajin
It’s the astonishing descent into vitriol and name-calling that repels me.

Which is what has been going on here,

Absodamnlutely. And the Bots just can't see it for what it is. Acting as bad if not worse than the typical liberals. Like I said, its become fairly apparent that a lot (a LOT) of people here are just a-holes, who, when pushed to a certain degree, just can't help themselves. Its been a sad and disheartening election cycle.

18 posted on 05/03/2016 6:26:12 AM PDT by Paradox (My positions can evolve, but Principles should be immutable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rktman

I love it - if they’re rude, call them out on it. If they don’t care, mock them ruthlessly.


19 posted on 05/03/2016 6:27:15 AM PDT by struggle (The)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThunderSleeps

LOL! I found at least one fatal flaw in your missive. That being....”As soon as you pin a liberal down with irrefutable facts and logic.......” Like that’s gonna happen. #factsdontmatter and #logicdontmatter. But, I agree that it can sometimes be fun to watch them make bigger fools of themselves than you originally thought them to be. Other times, without the “right” mind set going in, it can be frustrating as hell. But, I like the way you think.


20 posted on 05/03/2016 6:29:22 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson