What fallacy is this? "I don't care."

garbonzo

Registered Senior Member
I'm debating with this lady and after debating a bit and committing tons of logical fallacies, I point them out to her, and she responds saying, "I don't care about committing logical fallacies with someone like you."

Is this itself a fallacy? Wouldn't it follow that if she didn't care, she wouldn't respond?

How can I point this out to her?

Thank you.
 
It's not so much a fallacy as arguing in bad faith - a bit like hitting you with her umbrella. Probably not worth pursuing.
 
It's not a fallacy. It's that she most likely doesn't respect you, so she's not interested in your "committing logical fallacies." Thus her saying "someone like you."

I've said it when I'm tired of a circular argument...but I just say..."I really don't care what you're saying."

It's not polite I admit. :/

If you care about her opinion, you might have to eat some humble pie and find out why the communication broke down.
 
It's not a fallacy. It's that she most likely doesn't respect you, so she's not interested in your "committing logical fallacies." Thus her saying "someone like you."

I've said it when I'm tired of a circular argument...but I just say..."I really don't care what you're saying."

It's not polite I admit. :/

If you care about her opinion, you might have to eat some humble pie and find out why the communication broke down.

It was basically just a genetic fallacy from the start. Trying to discredit me based off something unrelated to the argument.
 
It's not a fallacy. It's that she most likely doesn't respect you, so she's not interested in your "committing logical fallacies." Thus her saying "someone like you."

I've said it when I'm tired of a circular argument...but I just say..."I really don't care what you're saying."

It's not polite I admit. :/

If you care about her opinion, you might have to eat some humble pie and find out why the communication broke down.

I agree *except* at this point I'd ignore her and find someone else to discuss the topic with. That sort of personal disrespect doesn't warrant my spending any effort. <shrug>
 
It was basically just a genetic fallacy from the start. Trying to discredit me based off something unrelated to the argument.
Ah! I see. Well...sometimes, when someone is "losing" the debate, he/she might say off the cuff remarks that attack the person and not the argument. It's childish. Effective though, you're asking us about it. Lol ;)

My advice as a woman? If she matters to you, try to see what's up. If she doesn't...say nothing.

I agree *except* at this point I'd ignore her and find someone else to discuss the topic with. That sort of personal disrespect doesn't warrant my spending any effort. <shrug>

We are hearing just one side of the story but all things being equal, I agree.

Her terse comment is tantamount to a child picking up his toys and storming off the playground.
One way to end a debate, I reckon. :eek:
 
If a person doesn't know what a logical/argumentative fallacy is (has never heard of phrases like "begging the question" or "moving the goalposts" or "argument from incredulity") then it's barely worth trying to point them out. Most people just want to argue the way they always have and not be moderated by any formal considerations, and they'll typically just ridicule you if you try to impose them.

In the end you've just got to decide if what you want to say to this person is actually important enough to justify a strategy session on how to "get through" to them.
 
If a person doesn't know what a logical/argumentative fallacy is (has never heard of phrases like "begging the question" or "moving the goalposts" or "argument from incredulity") then it's barely worth trying to point them out. Most people just want to argue the way they always have and not be moderated by any formal considerations, and they'll typically just ridicule you if you try to impose them.

In the end you've just got to decide if what you want to say to this person is actually important enough to justify a strategy session on how to "get through" to them.

Too true.
 
I'm debating with this lady and after debating a bit and committing tons of logical fallacies, I point them out to her, and she responds saying, "I don't care about committing logical fallacies with someone like you."

Is this itself a fallacy? Wouldn't it follow that if she didn't care, she wouldn't respond?

How can I point this out to her?

Thank you.
I'd say it's a combination of a red herring and special pleading.
It's a red herring as her lack of care about committing logical fallacies is (presumably) irrelevant to the argument being discussed.
It is also probably special pleading as she wishes to be treated differently so as to avoid a position.

Basically, if someone does not care about the logical fallacies they commit then discussions, in my opinion, become about the person rather than the points they make, I.e. force of personality determines the outcome. And, in my opinion, the argument is doomed from the start to be constructive in anything other than providing an insight into the other person's thought-processes, and not in concluding on anything regarding the actual point under discussion.
 
I'd say it's a combination of a red herring and special pleading.
It's a red herring as her lack of care about committing logical fallacies is (presumably) irrelevant to the argument being discussed.
It is also probably special pleading as she wishes to be treated differently so as to avoid a position.

Basically, if someone does not care about the logical fallacies they commit then discussions, in my opinion, become about the person rather than the points they make, I.e. force of personality determines the outcome. And, in my opinion, the argument is doomed from the start to be constructive in anything other than providing an insight into the other person's thought-processes, and not in concluding on anything regarding the actual point under discussion.

Too true.
 
I'm debating with this lady and after debating a bit and committing tons of logical fallacies, I point them out to her, and she responds saying, "I don't care about committing logical fallacies with someone like you."

If somebody starts pointing out all the (alleged) logical errors in somebody else's arguments, it's probably going to be perceived by that second person as an expression of superiority. People don't like it when other people try to claim rank on them and they instinctively resist it (whether effectively or not).

Criticizing somebody else's logic might even be an ad-hominem fallacy in its own right, if it distracts attention away from the actual argument that a person is making by putting them in the position of having to defend themselves personally.

Rhetorically speaking, it's probably more effective to leave the other person out of it and to direct your comments to the other person's argument. If that argument is logically consistent with potentially devastating counter-examples (and that's often the defect with the fallacies), then gently suggest an effective counter-example. If the defect is one of relevance, then inquire as to how the other person's point supports his/her conclusion.

It's often possible to do that without pushing the other person into a position where their ego-defenses rise. Sometimes it helps to affect a little false-modesty, by suggesting that you might not fully understand the other person's argument, and by asking them to expand on it. That inflates the other person's ego by giving them an opportunity to play instructor with you. Then drop in your own counter-points in a friendly conversational way, pointing out what you believe the problems are in the argument the other person is crafting.

It helps to express some common purpose with the other person, reassuring them that you share some of their fundamental concerns and goals. Then gently point out that you simply don't understand how the other person's argument can succeed as presently conceived and expressed. Suggest that it might need some more work.

That puts the two of you in the position of being allies, both working towards shared goals and both struggling to discover the best way forward. That's going to make the other person a lot more receptive to listening to your suggestions.

That's the bottom-line, I guess. Never put your opponent into a rhetorical situation where he or she perceives agreeing with you as a humiliation. That will pretty much insure that they won't agree. Always try to give the other person a path to agreeing with you that leaves their pride intact.
 
I'm debating with this lady and after debating a bit and committing tons of logical fallacies, I point them out to her, and she responds saying, "I don't care about committing logical fallacies with someone like you."

Is this itself a fallacy? Wouldn't it follow that if she didn't care, she wouldn't respond?

How can I point this out to her?

Thank you.

(bolding mine)

It's an ad hominem, at least.

Yazata gave some wise advice.
 
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