Gotcha argument

Cogito ergo sum Logic and rhetoric

Key articles

Logical fallacy Syllogism Argument

General logic

The Fine Art of Baloney Detection Ultracrepidarianism Symbolic logic Weasel word SeekFind دوگانگی مرتن

Bad logic

Equivocation Gish Gallop Deepity Conditional fallacy Word magic Post hoc, ergo propter hoc (português) v - t - e

Not to be confused with an Escape hatch.

“”It's only a "gotcha question" if you have gotcha beliefs.

—Kyle Kulinski

A Gotcha argument is a claim that another's argumentation is invalid because it backs an idiot into a corner that cannot be fought out of, usually through use of facts, logic and/or scientific knowledge to crush one's superstitions.

Sarah Palin accused reporters of this — by using the term "gotcha journalism" — as a way to "cover" her inability to answer simple questions and to make the "liberal media" seem like the bad guys trying to discredit her.

To avoid such allegations when arguing with neoconservatives, one must avoid any and all use of facts, reason or anything deemed to be "elitist" (e.g., shoes, proper grammar, half a brain, a higher education that didn't take 6 years to complete, ability to answer simple questions, ability to talk, knowledge that the earth isn't flat and is also far older than 6,000 years old, basic understanding of anything outside the US, owning a foreign car).

See also

• Escape hatch — the version to use against elitists

References

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