Post by carole on Dec 8, 2011 9:16:04 GMT -5
Help me out please. I know this may sound like a dumb question - but I am trying to think of a name for this 'debate' or 'argument' style. This is something that really bugs me when people say things like "well if it was a democrat that did that the news would be all over it", or "if it was a republican that did that they wouldn't get away with it". We have a local news story going on in our town right now on the kidnapping, assault and murder of a seven year old. It took the police 5 days to make an arrest, my stbx made the remark that "if they had done that to an animal they would have found the person sooner". And then there are other people who say things like "if I did what he did I would get in trouble, he gets away with it" I could give a million examples but I think you get the idea.
I HATE it when people say things like that. For one reason you don't KNOW what would have happened if another scenario had happened because the other scenario is NOT what happened. What? Do you have a crystal ball??
And I find it is usually done by people upset that 'their guy is being exposed in the media, or by people who want to vilify a certain group of people (my stbx for example hates the animal rights groups). Or by people who have a persecution complex.
Really, what would you call this type of argument? I'm trying to come up with a name for it because it really bugs me and I'd like to be able to put a name to it and call people out on it.
I HATE it when people say things like that. For one reason you don't KNOW what would have happened if another scenario had happened because the other scenario is NOT what happened. What? Do you have a crystal ball??
And I find it is usually done by people upset that 'their guy is being exposed in the media, or by people who want to vilify a certain group of people (my stbx for example hates the animal rights groups). Or by people who have a persecution complex.
Really, what would you call this type of argument? I'm trying to come up with a name for it because it really bugs me and I'd like to be able to put a name to it and call people out on it.