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To: general_re
As I wait I am pointing out the hypocrisies in some of the posts.

Careful - someone will come along and accuse you of ad hominem argumentation.

I did not write arguments, I wrote posts. Hypocrisy can be pointed out. I was not in a debate at the time. However that does not alleviate your inability to comprehend

Arguments Ad Hominem B applies.

This fallacy is commonly called "an attack on the person." It is a direct attack against an individual, such as attacking a person's beliefs or assertions by attacking the person himself in one way or another. It appears in one of three forms.

A. Abusive

The abusive form uses epithets or factual but irrelevant data against an opponent in hopes of discrediting any statements an opponent may make. Those committing this fallacy hope to turn attention away from the facts of the argument to the person participating in the argument. It is a personal attack on the individual making the argument, not on the argument itself. This is very common in political debates, where the participants find it easier and advantageous to discuss personalities and engage in mudslinging, rather than discuss the issues in the debate.

B. Circumstantial

The circumstantial form cites the opponent's personal circumstances as sufficient reason for dismissing a statement the opponent has made. Or it may point out a contrast between the opponent's lifestyle and his expressed opinions, thereby suggesting that the opponent's conclusions can be dismissed because the opponent is himself hypocritical.

C. Arguments Tu Quoque

The tu quoque fallacy occurs when a person attempts to escape criticism of his position by attacking the position of his opponent, rather than by directly answering the charges against him.

 

412 posted on 06/17/2002 11:00:14 AM PDT by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC
Poor Andrew - someday, if you ponder it really hard, you'll understand the distinction in post 383. It's subtle, I admit, but it's real.

In any case, I see no particular reason to carry that argument over to this thread. Take the last word.

417 posted on 06/17/2002 11:07:59 AM PDT by general_re
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