# How to tell you are debating with an idiot.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 10, 2002, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745 "2002-12-10T10:23:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/21 "2002-12-11T02:20:44Z")

</div>

I admit that this is a cheap shot, (and I do not think that the example is indicative of the author), but it is difficult to pass this up:

> [@](#):
>
> Watch for these key comments and know what they really imply:  
> **. . .**
> 
> **Is English your second language?**
> 
> I am a poor writer.

[Collounsbury

Just curious, is English your second language?]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2500115#post2500115](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2500115#post2500115))

😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/22 "2002-12-11T04:58:34Z")

</div>

I once listened to a guy argue with my philosophy prof for an hour. His whole argument consisted of the phrases, “I believe in karma”, “What goes around comes around, y’know”, and “I’ve got my rights!” repeated over and over. It was scary. The fact that he’d been proved wrong several times didn’t seem to penetrate.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/23 "2002-12-11T05:16:02Z")

</div>

If they use the phrase “if it saves one child…”

Hey, if we locked all children up in plastic bubbles at birth it would save some lives but I don’t see them arguing for that.

If they gave all their wages - every penny - to charity and starved to death themselves, it might save a few children but I don’t see them doing that.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/24 "2002-12-11T05:37:52Z")

</div>

I’ve often said that I refuse to argue with anyone who uses the phrase “moral fiber”, capitalizes the word “Truth”, or spells Clinton with a K.

Dr. J

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/25 "2002-12-11T06:46:02Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by CRorex \*  
> \*\*I had a quote book that said something along the lines of:
> 
> The smarter a person is, the more they agree with you (Aka great minds think alike). \*\*

Fools seldom differ.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/26 "2002-12-11T06:56:32Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eutychus \*  
> \*\*One word : turdburglar. \*\*

\<laugh my ass off\> you just couldn’t resist, could you?..😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/27 "2002-12-11T11:59:24Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by tomndebb \*  
> \*\*I admit that this is a cheap shot, (and I do not think that the example is indicative of the author), but it is difficult to pass this up:
> 
> [Collounsbury
> 
> Just curious, is English your second language?]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2500115#post2500115](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2500115#post2500115))
> 
> 😉 \*\*

Actually, I took most of them from my own famous fallacies. 🆒

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/28 "2002-12-13T06:57:33Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by elf6c \*  
> \*\*You think the post is a parody at first.  
> \*\*

Or if you think a parody is a serious post, and argue against it.

Or if you parody someone else’s post instead of refuting it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Captain\_Blunty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Captain\_Blunty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Blunty)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/29 "2002-12-13T11:19:37Z")

</div>

If her nick is **MusicMistress**. 😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![airdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@airdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/airdisc)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/30 "2002-12-13T12:00:58Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> I’ve often said that I refuse to argue with anyone who uses the phrase “moral fiber”, capitalizes the word “Truth”, or spells Clinton with a K.

That’s because you have no moral fiber, and understand the Truth less than Klinton.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/31 "2002-12-13T17:53:58Z")

</div>

Why would you spell Clinton with a K? Are you trying to find a connection between him and the Klingon empire?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/32 "2002-12-13T18:26:27Z")

</div>

Red flags of idiots (or, at least, idiotic debating)

“It’s self-evident.”

“This is a slippery slope.”

“Public opinion polls agree with me.”

“That was before my time.”

“Get a life.”

“Cecil would agree with me.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745/33 "2002-12-13T18:34:10Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Libertarian \*  
> \*\*Watch for these key comments and know what they really imply:
> 
> * * *
> 
> **I must not be explaining myself well.**
> 
> If you just _understood_ my argument, you would concede my point.
> 
> **Cite?**
> 
> I really have no counter-argument, so I’ll just haul out this rope-a-dope.
> 
> **You’re an idiot!**
> 
> I’m an idiot.
> 
> **Are you even _reading_ my posts?**
> 
> Please don’t make me actually explain what I mean.
> 
> **Is English your second language?**
> 
> I am a poor writer.
> 
> **"Commensurate" is speled with two m’s.**
> 
> No one is above Gaudere’s Law.
> 
> **Your source is biased.**
> 
> I can’t find a good source myself, so I’ll trash yours.
> 
> **So, you’re saying that…**
> 
> Since I can’t argue against what you said, I’ll make something up and argue against _that_.
> 
> **I can’t prove a negative.**
> 
> Except for that one.
> 
> **I’m going to need a lot more proof than that.**
> 
> What you’re saying won’t be true until I say it myself.
> 
> **You’ve taken what I said out of context.**
> 
> Since that didn’t work, let me try this.
> 
> **That’s just your opinion.**
> 
> But what I’m saying is a fact.
> 
> **I’m just fed up with debating you.**
> 
> You win. \*\*

LOLROFPIP. Lib, you are good, but this is too good even for you. Admit it, this is pure copyright infringment, isn’t it?

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-you-are-debating-with-an-idiot/141745.md?page=1)