4 ms·

Not that I agree or disagree, but that is simply an ad hominem attack.

markdown 7y ago
Calling something an ad hominem attack doesn't make it less valid in the context of the discussion. This is a thread about immigration. If Thiel's opinions on immigration are to be considered, then his own behaviour in that regard are absolutely relevant.
- dragonwriter 7y ago
  > This is a thread about immigration. If Thiel's opinions on immigration are to be considered, then his own behaviour in that regard are absolutely relevant. No, it's not. It might be germane if (1) his behavior demonstrated that he was particylt untrustworthy on this topic and (2) fact claims were being made that could only be accepted based on trusting Thiel. It might also be germane if we were discussing the credibility of his claim to believe in the position he lays out rather than the merits of that position (this is actual a special case of the preceding.) It's also potentially useful as a filter as to whether it's worthwhile to both considering his opinions and participating in the discussion in the first place; many fallacies are pragmatically useful in terms of whittling down the universe of ideas to decide which one are more likely to ve worth spending more time analyzing. But once you jump into the discussion on the merits, well, there is a reason fallacies have been identified.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
seanmcdirmid 7y ago
I’m not sure ad hominem applies, since it isn’t trying to discredit his argument by nature of his background. The comment is definitely off topic and doesn’t add anything to the discussion, however.
- dragonwriter 7y ago
  > I’m not sure ad hominem applies, since it isn’t trying to discredit his argument by nature of his background It literally asks that his argument be dismissed because of his his personal conduct; it is textbook ad hominem.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    It depends if it was Thiel’s argument or not. I’m not quite sure because of the thread history, there was something about his book and another about people who have multiple passports.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

Calling something an ad hominem attack doesn't make it less valid in the context of the discussion. This is a thread about immigration. If Thiel's opinions on immigration are to be considered, then his own behaviour in that regard are absolutely relevant.

dragonwriter 7y ago
> This is a thread about immigration. If Thiel's opinions on immigration are to be considered, then his own behaviour in that regard are absolutely relevant. No, it's not. It might be germane if (1) his behavior demonstrated that he was particylt untrustworthy on this topic and (2) fact claims were being made that could only be accepted based on trusting Thiel. It might also be germane if we were discussing the credibility of his claim to believe in the position he lays out rather than the merits of that position (this is actual a special case of the preceding.) It's also potentially useful as a filter as to whether it's worthwhile to both considering his opinions and participating in the discussion in the first place; many fallacies are pragmatically useful in terms of whittling down the universe of ideas to decide which one are more likely to ve worth spending more time analyzing. But once you jump into the discussion on the merits, well, there is a reason fallacies have been identified.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

seanmcdirmid 7y ago

I’m not sure ad hominem applies, since it isn’t trying to discredit his argument by nature of his background. The comment is definitely off topic and doesn’t add anything to the discussion, however.

dragonwriter 7y ago
> I’m not sure ad hominem applies, since it isn’t trying to discredit his argument by nature of his background It literally asks that his argument be dismissed because of his his personal conduct; it is textbook ad hominem.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  It depends if it was Thiel’s argument or not. I’m not quite sure because of the thread history, there was something about his book and another about people who have multiple passports.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]