The "both sides do it" ploy

[Cary]

First off unless the actual subject is "both sides do it" I don't see any relevance to this ploy. It is a logical fallacy. It is a red herring. It is a deflection.

What does one say when they use this ploy? "Two wrongs make a right." "These aren't the droids you're looking for, move along." And it's also a telltale tactic of Ron Paul cultists. I'm not sure how it fits with Ayn Rand except if you ever encounter any Atlas Society doodads you ought to prepare yourself for ad hominem and any other logical fallacy.

I would like to see less tolerance here for "both sides do it." We are better than that.

[rock]

1. Right you are

If you go to Snopes you can discover that that both Republicans and Democrats lie (both sides do it): republicans about twice as often as Democrats. And Trump about 74% of the time.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I'll second that...nt

[Cary]

3. It has no place in our dialogue

Individual criticism of individual actions of individual Democrats, ok. I can see that.

But broadsweeping generalizations equating us to Republicans? WTF?

[Cary]

6. First off why do you insist on making it about me?

Because you want to pick a fight with me. That's the only reason you were aggressive and personal.

This is a discussion board. I state my opinion. You need to address my opinion, not my person. You don't know me. You are not my judge. Nor are you in my mind.

Second, you manage to miss the point entirely. Ok, but give your hostility I am not inclined to respond to you in any substantive way.

[bettyellen]

14. Now you are flat out accusing Dems of being worse than the GOP.

Just go if you hate us so much, seriously.

"Espically if your sides actionsare much worse" - what "side" are you on with this bullshit?

[Orrex]

5. "Both sides do it" is carte blanche to avoid doing any actual journalism

[Cary]

7. Isn't that the point of deflection?

I agree. It's the fallacy of the golden mean. It's lazy.

It's also onsideous. We need to oppose it with all of.our might.

[Orrex]

9. I agree completely.

It is an undeniably shitty tactic of deflection.

[JHB]

8. Yes, just because there's turf on both sides of the 10 yard line doesn't make it the same...

Last edited Sun Apr 9, 2017, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

...and a lot of times it's not the 10 yard line, more like the 5 or the 1.

Pretending it is the same isn't balance or "consistency", it's doing a poor job.

[sheshe2]

10. Agreed

I know exactly where you are coming from, Cary.

[NastyRiffraff]

11. Thanks for this, Cary

We see it all too often here on DU, and it just shrugs off the evil that the Trump administration is inflicting on us. It's a "so what?" a throwing up of hands, a complete surrender.

Both sides are NOT the same.

[Cary]

12. Yes and it's sowing discord and discontent

The point is to weaken us and deprive us of our resolve. It is divisive and not constructive.

[MurrayDelph]

13. And this "both sides do it" crap

makes it easier for them to pull "Yeah, we cheated. But don't think that if they were given the same chance the Democrats wouldn't have pulled the same maneuver" bullshit.

[Cary]

15. You have "conservatives" who own their cheating?

Your batch is a better grade than mine.