The Free Zone Board

[QuasimodoJones]

From a recent Dilbert newsletter:

Induhvidual Debating Technique
------------------------------

Lately I have found myself in e-mail discussions with Induhviduals who employ debating tactics that are very similar. I suspect they are learning these methods in some sort of top-secret Induhvidual training facility.

The Induhvidual debating technique involves four steps:

1. Exaggerate your opponent's statement into an absurd absolute.

2. Make an inappropriate analogy.
3. Change the topic to something easier to defend.
4. Claim victory.

For example:


Me: Vegetables are good for you.

Induhvidual: That's ridiculous. If you ate a truckload of
vegetables all at once you would die.

Me: No one eats a truckload all at once.

Induhvidual: Let me give you an analogy. If you tried to swim
across the ocean, and you didn't know how to swim,
and you had no arms or legs, you'd never make it.
Surely you can agree with that.

Me: Um...that's different.

Induhvidual: Ha! So now you agree with me that swimming is good
exercise!

The worst part is that not only will you be frustrated at your
inability to make your point, you will be branded as the person who thinks swimming is bad exercise.
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