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There are certainly more than one set of problems indeed. I suppose that was your point, and not just a whataboutism? Edit: To clarify, since I assume the imme

There are certainly more than one set of problems indeed. I suppose that was your point, and not just a whataboutism? Edit: To clarify, since I assume the immediate downvote was from the parent. A "typical distraction from deeper problems" is not relevant here, as, I am in fact, explicitly, and quite deliberately pointing out the moral issues of privatized prisons and health care. The definition of the logical fallacy I am asking whether or not you intended is the "attempt to discredit an opponent's position by charging them with hypocrisy without directly refuting or disproving their argument". Now, as I mentioned, I do not think the issues you've pointed out are non-existent, or non-problematic, they are just irrelevant to the issue and point I made. So, if what you wanted was to give particular examples of issues in non-private institutions, then, by all means. I don't see how that relates, and it would be a pretty spot on example of a whataboutism.

Red_Leaves_Flyy 5y ago
Pretty sure the person you're responding was to suggesting that your argument is missing the forest for the trees. That privatized prisons is a lesser evil when considering all the evils wrought upon those imprisoned be they in a public or private prison.
- okamiueru 5y ago
  Ah, I see. Well, thank for clarifying. My argument was however that, by not explaining what this "larger evil" is, and just giving examples that exist and are equally problematic, if not more, in private prisons, while at the same time not addressing my point, which was the moral aspect of profiting from incarceration... That the response I got seemed disingenuous or unrelated? I don't know. People seem to downvoted anything that isn't pro USA. Just see my other comment. I took the time to answer how this doesn't apply to food production, and also got downvoted without explanation. So, maybe this isn't the website for thoughtful discussions that it once was. Arguing the immorality of private prisons is not the same as arguing the morality of public prisons. The response I got seemed based on an assumption that I argued the latter, and is a logical fallacy. A: profit on prison population has significant moral problems B: public prisons exploit workers in the US! A: well... That's, bad too. And, it's a bit tiresome. I'm pointing out something that is pretty obvious, yet, instead of some argument that can be refuted, my argument is made to be something different. And that's the crux of it. People don't like that their constitution explicitly allows forced labour of incarcerated people, aka slavery. I wouldn't like it either. It's immoral and wrong. Put it under a for profit business? Even worse... I mean. What counter argument can you possibly have. So, of course people will attempt to refute it with logical fallacies instead.
  - Red_Leaves_Flyy 5y ago
    I've down voted you for complaining about votes. It detracts from the quality of the discussion and is against the guidelines. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html I'm glad I was able to clarify something for you, but I have nothing else to add.
    - okamiueru 5y ago
      I see. Well, I'm actually very aware what the guidelines say. > Please don't comment about the voting on comments. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading. However, I did not in particular complain about the downvotes. I minded silent dismissal and intellectually dishonest discourse. I took the immediate downvotes as a need to clarify, and stated that as the reason. But, I might as well not do that. Point taken.

Red_Leaves_Flyy 5y ago

Pretty sure the person you're responding was to suggesting that your argument is missing the forest for the trees. That privatized prisons is a lesser evil when considering all the evils wrought upon those imprisoned be they in a public or private prison.

okamiueru 5y ago
Ah, I see. Well, thank for clarifying. My argument was however that, by not explaining what this "larger evil" is, and just giving examples that exist and are equally problematic, if not more, in private prisons, while at the same time not addressing my point, which was the moral aspect of profiting from incarceration... That the response I got seemed disingenuous or unrelated? I don't know. People seem to downvoted anything that isn't pro USA. Just see my other comment. I took the time to answer how this doesn't apply to food production, and also got downvoted without explanation. So, maybe this isn't the website for thoughtful discussions that it once was. Arguing the immorality of private prisons is not the same as arguing the morality of public prisons. The response I got seemed based on an assumption that I argued the latter, and is a logical fallacy. A: profit on prison population has significant moral problems B: public prisons exploit workers in the US! A: well... That's, bad too. And, it's a bit tiresome. I'm pointing out something that is pretty obvious, yet, instead of some argument that can be refuted, my argument is made to be something different. And that's the crux of it. People don't like that their constitution explicitly allows forced labour of incarcerated people, aka slavery. I wouldn't like it either. It's immoral and wrong. Put it under a for profit business? Even worse... I mean. What counter argument can you possibly have. So, of course people will attempt to refute it with logical fallacies instead.
- Red_Leaves_Flyy 5y ago
  I've down voted you for complaining about votes. It detracts from the quality of the discussion and is against the guidelines. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html I'm glad I was able to clarify something for you, but I have nothing else to add.
  - okamiueru 5y ago
    I see. Well, I'm actually very aware what the guidelines say. > Please don't comment about the voting on comments. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading. However, I did not in particular complain about the downvotes. I minded silent dismissal and intellectually dishonest discourse. I took the immediate downvotes as a need to clarify, and stated that as the reason. But, I might as well not do that. Point taken.