Appeal to False Authority

Here’s another (well…it’s building on already posted ideas) – what to do with the poster that feels there personal information is sacrosanct, but wields it about when the feel it suits their crumbling argument?

For instance – someone always invokes his or her vocation as a de facto legitimacy tool for whatever argument they see fit. So and so is a fireman, and because the 9/11 attacks involved stated profession and fire, they are now, by extension, experts on all things firefighting, building demolition, chemical reactions, missile strikes, airplane mechanics, piloting airliners, global politics and conspiracy theorists. Not only is that a huge miscarriage of logic, but also they often wear it as a badge of honour and dare others to question it.

The inevitable bitching and whining often follows this when that same freely volunteered information is questioned (or used in satirical fun) as relevant or even truthful. Here’s a quick truism – don’t volunteer information on forums or use it in a manner that suggest an appeal to false authority unless you wasn’t it vigorously questioned, challenged or addressed. You volunteered it. You believed served a purpose when you claimed your DeVry diploma qualified you as expert on Renaissance philosophy, so know you forfeit your alleged cry-baby rights to complain when someone asks how a DeVry piece of paper allows you to question Durer’s existence. Don’t like it. Don’t post it. And don’t complain that this somehow violates some vague forum rules if it’s used against you, but it’s somehow above reproach when its levelled against others. It’s a chickenshit way out and it signals your disingenuous nature.

Oh well…another day, another forum musing. Remember forum fans, keep posting, keep smiling and keep checking out the Comment Corner. Like milk, it does a body good.