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There's a certain family of oft-posted-about-online economic/political ideologies that, as best I can tell, spread primarily by abusing language in this way, ho

by ashark 9y ago

There's a certain family of oft-posted-about-online economic/political ideologies that, as best I can tell, spread primarily by abusing language in this way, hoping the reader does not catch them sliding in a metaphorical, colloquial, or simply not-quite-right terms, then trying to leverage those terms' stricter and more correct definitions when drawing conclusions. Later the converted reader will happily and confidently spread the same message, e.g. "taxation IS theft!"

jerkstate 9y ago
we should coin a term for this, but I can't think of a good one - "licentious language" doesn't quite have the same ring as "fake news!"
- ska 9y ago
  What's wrong with "bullshit" ?
- SilasX 9y ago
  In Less Wrong/Slate Star Codex circles, it's called the Non-Central Fallacy (basically, trying to assert that a technically-valid edge case of X should be treated as if it's a typical example of X): http://lesswrong.com/lw/e95/the_noncentral_fallacy_the_worst_argument_in_the/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/e95/the_noncentral_fallacy_the_worst...
- thingification 9y ago
  I guess you're wanting both a more specific and more infectious (or virulent?) word, but: equivocation.
dmichulke 9y ago
"Taxation is theft" is spread by Libertarians based on the principle that any forced / coerced taking away of your property without having legally signed a contract to do so is theft. It's certainly not an abuse of language, it's a fact if you don't assume ex ante that the state can do what others are forbidden. The reasons you describe here are mixing up an "others are stupid" attitude with legitimate and consistent views of the world. It's sad to see these views derided and the child commenters applaud. Ever heard of Ayn Rand, Ludwig von Mises or Milton Friedman? Well, guess they are stupid as well. Let me know if you want to read something about it before deriding not-your-opinion next time.

by ashark 9y ago

jerkstate 9y ago

we should coin a term for this, but I can't think of a good one - "licentious language" doesn't quite have the same ring as "fake news!"

ska 9y ago
What's wrong with "bullshit" ?
SilasX 9y ago
In Less Wrong/Slate Star Codex circles, it's called the Non-Central Fallacy (basically, trying to assert that a technically-valid edge case of X should be treated as if it's a typical example of X): http://lesswrong.com/lw/e95/the_noncentral_fallacy_the_worst_argument_in_the/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/e95/the_noncentral_fallacy_the_worst...
thingification 9y ago
I guess you're wanting both a more specific and more infectious (or virulent?) word, but: equivocation.

dmichulke 9y ago

"Taxation is theft" is spread by Libertarians based on the principle that any forced / coerced taking away of your property without having legally signed a contract to do so is theft. It's certainly not an abuse of language, it's a fact if you don't assume ex ante that the state can do what others are forbidden. The reasons you describe here are mixing up an "others are stupid" attitude with legitimate and consistent views of the world. It's sad to see these views derided and the child commenters applaud. Ever heard of Ayn Rand, Ludwig von Mises or Milton Friedman? Well, guess they are stupid as well. Let me know if you want to read something about it before deriding not-your-opinion next time.