From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Fri Apr 11 2003 - 19:16:59 MDT
Lee Daniel Crocker wrote,
> > > I don't agree with gts here. Whether or not saying
> > > that a member of the KKK "is scum" draws objections
> > > or not is not the point. As gts and Harvey have
> > > explained, there is simply no content to such name
> > > calling.
>
> Ah, but the statement does have content, just not any content
> about the KKK. It contains lots of useful, meaningful content
> about the speaker.
Yes, this is a more accurate way to describe ad hominem. It does not add
any information to the debate concerning the topic of the debate. It does
not address any information presented by the opponent. It only describes
the speaker's emotional reaction to their own conclusions. It gives no
evidence or information about those conclusions or why they should be
accepted.
In the tradition of E-prime, instead of saying that "the KKK is scum", it
would be more precise to say, "The feelings I have about the KKK are the
same as the feelings I have about scum." Such a statement cannot be used to
argue. Conversely, no one can argue against such a self-proclamation
either.
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP, IAM, GSEC <www.HarveyNewstrom.com>
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