Quote:
Originally Posted by graham.hobart
With all due respect Clive, if this person had not popped up and trolled this thread, no one would be questioning the veracity of Paul's work. We have all seen and followed the development of a 2014 Malin award winner on this site. Each picture. Each photon.
Why now?
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Graham... my grievance, well, that may be too strong a word,
so let's just say, the source of my 'irritation' if I was to be fair, is not specifically in respect to what is being discussed in this thread, it's just brought it to a head.
Before I go on, let me diffuse this a little by directing your attention to a couple of other threads (now locked) that won't illicit the same degree of emotive response, but will still make my point. If you do a search on this forum with the key words 'Moon hoax' or 'Moon landing conspiracy' or UFO (over Melbourne?)- I can't recall exactly... The nub of argument should be fairly obvious..
Take the moon landing hoax for example... My position on this is that I have yet to see any evidence that discredits NASA's account, so I assume it is more or less accurate.. That being said, the arguments (or more succinctly) the style of arguments used by 95% of the IIS members who participated in the discussions can only be described as logical fallacies. (and that's sugar coating it)
If a forum which is ostensibly for people with an appreciation for scientific endeavour, and, given a topic with such an incredible weight of proof, chooses to rely on, (almost to a man) invalid arguments to discredit opposition, then forgive me if I express frustration, even if I don't disagree with the conclusion in the first place. Science cannot be defended by the abdication of logic in order to score points in a debate.
The moon landing hoax thread is an example which basically consisted of page after page of rebuttal via:
I cannot imagine how this could be true, therefore it must be false
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_ignorance
It has been discussed extensively, nobody should discuss it anymore
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_repetition
Evasion of the actual topic by directing an attack at your opponent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
Providing what is essentially the conclusion of the argument as a premise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question
Circular reasoning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_reasoning
Assuming that something true of part of a whole must also be true of the whole.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_of_composition
Two alternative statements are held to be the only possible options, when in reality there are more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_dilemma
An argument that may in itself be valid, but does not address the issue in question.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignoratio_elenchi
Moral high ground attitude - in an attempt to make oneself look good to win an argument.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_high_ground
Assuming something which has socially unpleasant consequences cannot exist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moralistic_fallacy
The burden of proof is on the person who makes the claim, not on the person who questions the claim.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philos...urden_of_proof
No true Scotsman would do such a thing!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
Thought terminating cliche
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Though...inating_cliché
Information about a target is presented with the intention of discrediting everything that the target person says.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_the_well
Verbal abuse of the opponent rather than arguing about the originally proposed argument.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem_abusive
An assertion is deemed true because of the position or authority of the person asserting it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_authority
An assertion is deemed true or false based on the accomplishments of the proposer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_accomplishment
An argument is made due to the manipulation of emotions, rather than the use of valid reasoning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_emotion
Appeal to emotion where an argument is made due to the use of flattery to gather support.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_flattery
An argument attempts to induce pity to sway opponents
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_pity
An argument is made by presenting the opponent's argument in a way that makes it appear ridiculous
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_ridicule
An argument is made through exploiting people's bitterness or spite towards an opposing party
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_spite
A premise is dismissed by calling into question the motives of its proposer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_motive
A conclusion supported solely because it has long been held to be true.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_tradition
A conclusion based on silence or lack of contrary evidence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_silence
An argument made through coercion or threats of force to support position.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_baculum
A proposition is claimed to be true or good solely because many people believe it to be so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum
Inferring why an argument is being used, associating it to some psychological reason, then assuming it is invalid as a result.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulverism
Insulting or pejorative language to influence the recipient's judgment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgmental_language
Claims about what ought to be on the basis of statements about what is.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalistic_fallacy
Dismissing an argument perceived unworthy of serious consideration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pooh-pooh
Confusion between two notions by defining one in terms of the other.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definist_fallacy
Even if I have no dog in the race, when I see tactics like these used, it gets under my skin... probably more so because the majority of people are blind to it.
It is probably the reason why I now rarely participate in this forum.
