User blog comment:New Dalek Paradigm/MATT SMITH IS LEAVING DOCTOR WHO YIPEE/@comment-4613987-20130601230852/@comment-4845243-20130604052252

The prevelancy of fallicious arguments is what's disgusting.

NDP's argument:

We are mature enough to handle reading the word he used It's just a word If we want to see [really] bad language, the we should go to a website intended for an older audience

Therefore, we should not complain when we read the word he used

Now, this can be further translated into various syllogisms. The following is a construction of the syllogism that he suggests by using an enthymeme.

We are mature enough to handle reading X (People mature enough to handle reading X are not complainers about reading X) Therefore, we are not (should not be) complainers about reading X

The statement in parenthesis being the assumed statement.

This argument is highly fallicious, because it makes the assumption —a rather large one— that people who can handle reading the word he used want to read it, or want it to be read by others. Does NDP seriously suppose that people who can handle seeing that word necessarily want to? The ability to handle X does not entail toleration of X. I can handle reading the f-bomb, but that does not mean I will tolerate it. NDP commits the logical fallacy of bifurcation by suggesting that we either have to tolerate X or not be able to handle X.

Second completed enthymeme:

X is just a word (Things that are just words should not be complained about) Therefore, X should not be complained about.

Again, counterexample can easily prove this fallicious.

Counterexample:

The N-word is just a word Things that are just words should not be complained about Therefore, the N-word should not be complained about.

This argument is, quite frankly, pathetic. All words are words. But they do have connotations, and saying something is 'just' a word is never strictly accurate. Words entail meanings, which refer to actual concepts, entities or objects.

Now, his final statement that I mentioned, the hypothetical, is really just a red herring. I'm sure that everyone is aware of how to find bad language on the internet. That is not the point, nor is it relevent to his conclusion.