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'''Gish gallop''' is a term for a ] method that focuses on overwhelming one's opponent with as many arguments as possible, without regard for accuracy or strength of the arguments; it is considered a fallacious technique.<ref name="Marcovici">{{harvnb|Marcovici|2013|p=39}}</ref> The term was coined by ] and named after the ] ].<ref name="scott2004">{{harvnb|Scott|2004|p=23}}</ref><ref name="scott1994">{{harvnb|Scott|1994}}</ref> '''Gish gallop''' is a term for a technique used during ] that focuses on overwhelming one's opponent with as many arguments as possible, without regard for accuracy or strength of the arguments. It is considered a fallacious technique.<ref name="Marcovici">{{harvnb|Marcovici|2013|p=39}}</ref>


The term was coined by ] and named after the ] ], who used the technique frequently against science-based opponents on the topic of evolution.<ref name="scott2004">{{harvnb|Scott|2004|p=23}}</ref><ref name="scott1994">{{harvnb|Scott|1994}}</ref> The phrase has become a pejorative used to describe similar debate styles employed by proponents of other, usually fringe beliefs, such as ] or the ].<ref name="Short and spiky">{{cite web|title=Homeopathy: Recedit ad anum|url=http://blog.anarchic-teapot.net/2012/02/18/homeopathy-recedit-ad-anum/|publisher=Short and spiky|accessdate=21 May 2012|date=15 Feb 2012}}</ref><ref name="Skeptical Review">{{cite web|last=St. Whitehall|first=Nigel|title=Skeptoid #167|url=http://www.skepreview.com/2009/08/skeptoid-167.html|publisher=The Skeptical Review|accessdate=21 May 2012|date=18 Aug 2009}}</ref>
The Gish gallop allows a debater to hit their opponent with a rapid series of many specious arguments, half-truths and misrepresentations in a short space of time, which makes it impossible for the opponent to refute all of them within the format of a formal debate. In practice, each point raised by the "Gish galloper" takes considerably more time to refute or fact-check than it did to state in the first place,<ref name=>{{harvnb|Hayward|2015|p=67}}</ref> which wastes the opponent's time and can cast doubt about their debating ability in an audience unfamiliar with the technique, especially if no independent fact-checking is involved.<ref name="grant2011">{{harvnb|Grant|2011|p=74}}</ref>


== Technique and counter measures ==
It is generally more difficult to use the Gish gallop in a structured debate than a free-form one.<ref name="johnson">{{harvnb|Johnson|2017|p=14-15}}</ref> If one is familiar with an opponent who is known to use the Gish gallop, the technique can be countered somewhat by preempting and refuting their commonly used arguments before they have the chance.<ref name="grant2015">{{harvnb|Grant|2015|p=55}}</ref>
During a Gish gallop, a debater confronts an opponent with a rapid series of many specious arguments, half-truths, and misrepresentations in a short space of time, which makes it impossible for the opponent to refute all of them within the format of a formal debate. In practice, each point raised by the "Gish galloper" takes considerably more time to refute or fact-check than it did to state in the first place.<ref name=>{{harvnb|Hayward|2015|p=67}}</ref> The technique wastes an opponent's time and may cast doubt on the opponent's debating ability for an audience unfamiliar with the technique, especially, if no independent fact-checking is involved,<ref name="grant2011">{{harvnb|Grant|2011|p=74}}</ref> or, if the audience has limited knowledge of the topics.

Generally, it is more difficult to use the Gish gallop in a structured debate than in a free-form one.<ref name="johnson">{{harvnb|Johnson|2017|p=14-15}}</ref> If a debater is familiar with an opponent who is known to use the Gish gallop, the technique may be countered somewhat during a debate, by preempting and refuting the opponent's commonly-used arguments before the opponent has an opportunity to launch into a Gish gallop.<ref name="grant2015">{{harvnb|Grant|2015|p=55}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 15:55, 26 November 2017

Gish gallop is a term for a technique used during debating that focuses on overwhelming one's opponent with as many arguments as possible, without regard for accuracy or strength of the arguments. It is considered a fallacious technique.

The term was coined by Eugenie C. Scott and named after the creationist Duane T. Gish, who used the technique frequently against science-based opponents on the topic of evolution. The phrase has become a pejorative used to describe similar debate styles employed by proponents of other, usually fringe beliefs, such as homeopathy or the moon landing conspiracy theories.

Technique and counter measures

During a Gish gallop, a debater confronts an opponent with a rapid series of many specious arguments, half-truths, and misrepresentations in a short space of time, which makes it impossible for the opponent to refute all of them within the format of a formal debate. In practice, each point raised by the "Gish galloper" takes considerably more time to refute or fact-check than it did to state in the first place. The technique wastes an opponent's time and may cast doubt on the opponent's debating ability for an audience unfamiliar with the technique, especially, if no independent fact-checking is involved, or, if the audience has limited knowledge of the topics.

Generally, it is more difficult to use the Gish gallop in a structured debate than in a free-form one. If a debater is familiar with an opponent who is known to use the Gish gallop, the technique may be countered somewhat during a debate, by preempting and refuting the opponent's commonly-used arguments before the opponent has an opportunity to launch into a Gish gallop.

See also

Notes

  1. Marcovici 2013, p. 39
  2. Scott 2004, p. 23
  3. Scott 1994
  4. "Homeopathy: Recedit ad anum". Short and spiky. 15 Feb 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  5. St. Whitehall, Nigel (18 Aug 2009). "Skeptoid #167". The Skeptical Review. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  6. Hayward 2015, p. 67
  7. Grant 2011, p. 74
  8. Johnson 2017, p. 14-15
  9. Grant 2015, p. 55

Sources

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