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It's already been thoroughly debunked, no ammount of additional logic will sway the people who still think vaccines cause autism. "You can't reason someone out
by Retr0spectrum 10y ago
It's already been thoroughly debunked, no ammount of additional logic will sway the people who still think vaccines cause autism.
"You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into" ~ Jonathan Swift (paraphrased)
- bryanrasmussen 10y agothat really doesn't sound like Swift - are you sure that's an accurate quote?
- Retr0spectrum 10y agoI actually skimmed this article before posting, it seems to conclude that it's from Swift (or at least, a rewording of something he said originally): http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/07/10/reason-out/ http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/07/10/reason-out/
- graeme 10y agoThe article says swift's original was this: "Reasoning will never make a Man correct an ill Opinion, which by Reasoning he never acquired" Which does sound like Swift. The rewrite doesn't, and attributing it to him in that form is misleading.
- Retr0spectrum 10y agoI agree, but how else should I attribute it? That particular variation just came off the top of my head.
- graeme 10y agoHmm, very good question. I don't really know. I wouldn't expect you to memorize the Swift original. I searched "How to attribute a fake quote" and nothing useful came up. Maybe: "– Apocryphal quote incorrectly attributed to Jonathan Swift" But that's not very satisfying, or short.
- stormbrew 10y agoApocryphal and incorrectly attributed to make it sound like he never even said something with that sense. The two quotes are more than alike enough in sentiment to attribute the idea to him, if not the exact words. In which case, "Jonathan Swift once said something like...."
- kolinko 10y agoOr just "Jonathan Swift (paraphrase)"
- Retr0spectrum 10y agoGood suggestion, I just edited my original comment.
- breischl 10y agoThe construction to paraphrase Jonathan Swift, "quote goes here" is similar, but arguably a bit more readable.
- pvg 10y agoThat makes it sound like the purpose of paraphrase is to give you license to misquote someone out of laziness, which it isn't. It's supposed to clarify meaning or, with direct quotes it's more often than not used to adapt a quote to the topic at hand.
- NoGravitas 10y agoI think it does clarify meaning in this case: it translates from 18th century English to contemporary English, while retaining the sense of the original.
- pvg 10y agoNo.
- Retr0spectrum 10y ago
- pvg 10y agoThis one is much easier than the convoluted answers - just use the accurate quote. Don't remember it? Google it, tends to find them easily. If it's completely apocryphal you can just say apocryphal or don't attribute it. "Paraphrased" typically has a somewhat different connotation, especially when you're using a direct quote.