Derailing for Dummies

[tim]

It's amazing how many people seem to know how to apply the argument tactics listed at "Derailing for Dummies" without even having read the site. Worth a read if you've ever been told that you were taking things too personally, that you were damaging your cause by being angry, or that your experience was unrepresentative. Or if you've ever told anyone those things.

Comments

[oxeador.livejournal.com]

Are you claiming that any of those three things can never be an accurate and useful piece of criticism?

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

I don't know of any situations where any of those criticisms are useful. I think the page explains it well enough.

ETA: At least when directed at an out-group member by an in-group member, anyway. And maybe without that qualifier, even.

[luinied]

I think that, without the disclaimer, you can claim that some particular of experience was not representative of most such experiences in various mundane contexts and have it be a useful contribution to a discussion. I'm not seeing it for any of the other cases, though.