Misc/Debaters Glossary

Debaters Glossary

This entire wiki is dedicated to help you learn and share the truth. Use this guide to help prepare you for debating with the "globers".
When debating always remember there are "newbies" listening in. "Newbies" need to hear the basics in your arguments (even if your opponent is "advanced"). Always prepare a short and concise description for each philosophy/proposition of the true earth. If that’s too hard to do, then the argument will fail!
REMEMBER: Debates are NOT for your opponent, they're for the audience!

Debate Do's and Don't

Sometimes people will stop listening because a claim made sound ridiculous or is not provided with a clear point.
Be careful not to fall into lazy descriptions as there's many newbies out there that haven't heard any of the truth about our beautiful created stationary topographical plane.

Don't do	Do instead
Don't say "space is fake"	Say "Outer space, as we were taught as children, is what is fake".
Don't say the "sun goes around"	Say "the sun CIRCLES ABOVE" ("around" could imply underneath)
Don't get distracted by blaming others	Often your opponent will say someone else thinks this, or says that. You are not them. Don't get distracted by this tactic.
Don't let the ballers reverse the Burden of proof	The burden of proof is on the positive claim. Specific Speeds, Specific Motions, etc. These go against what our senses or observations tell us. The burden of proof is on the Globe side, they make all kinds of claims.
Don't let the ballers take apart your words	They might say, what do you mean by "If". Don't get sidetracked by these tactics. Stay on your debate points, not definition of simple words. Maybe tell them if they need the definition of words, perhaps we can help you at another time.
Believing the News is an appeal to Authority?	No. Believing the News is an appeal to authoritative sources. Ballers love to jump on you for the slightest misuse of definitions.

Debate Tactics

Type	Breakdown / Example
"Steel Man"	(1) Attempt to re-express the other person’s position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that they say, “Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it that way.” (2) List any points of agreement (especially if they are not matters of general or widespread agreement). (3) Mention anything you have learned from your target. (4) Only then are you permitted to say so much as a word of rebuttal or criticism.
Begin & conclude sharply	Each point should be covered in twenty seconds, for a total time of one minute. (1) Briefly outline the character and objectives of your presentation (2) State the two or three specific points you want to make in this debate (3) Outline the general weaknesses of your opponent's position. You can seize the initiative and keep it by beginning the debate on the right foot. In many cases, the moderator will allow each debater one or two minutes to present an opening statement. You should have an opening statement rehearsed and ready to go the day before the debate.
Assume control	It is also important to gain immediate momentum in the debate with a strong and clear opening statement. It may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to control a debate is to talk more than one's opponent. This can be accomplished by using one or more of several different tactics. One way is to structure statements or replies and preface them with a phrase like "I'd like to make three points here.", then number the points and speaking at a relatively quick pace, get a lot of information across to the audience. Any interruption by the opponent or by the moderator will appear to be rude.
Stay on the subject	Any experienced debater will tell you that the single most aggravating characteristic of a debate is the apparent total inability to stay on the subject at hand. The notorious "what about?". There is a simple reason for this 'red herring' tactic. The globe position is clearly indefensible. A globe debater realizes that, if he can "Muddy the Waters" by perverting the conversation into a wandering, aimless argument about other topics, he can neutralise and dilute the inherent superiority and impact of your position. By breaking even, he 'wins.'
Anticipate	A flat-earth debater has certain important advantages over a globber. It is easier to anticipate the thought processes of an globber debater than it is to anticipate the thoughts of a debater that takes any other position, simply because globber usually rely very heavily on logical fallacies and appeal to authority to support their position(s).
Repeat important points	Repetition is a very effective tactic that globbers use in debates. They adhere rigidly to the Shakespearean principle "A lie oft repeated soon bears the guise of truth.". Begin and end the debate with these points, and your entire message should be built around them. you must have irrefutable documentation at hand in addition to anticipating his opponent's rebuttals.
Listen effectively	Since debate is a form of communication, it is composed of two fundamental parts: Talking and listening. Before a person can rebut effectively and concisely, he must be able to listen effectively. The main job of a debater is to discern the meaning behind his opponent's words in order to paint a picture in his own mind of what he is thinking and what his objective(s) are. It is a good idea for a debater to write down statements by the opposition that you would like to address later in the debate. This will allow you to refer to your opponent's verbatim statements at opportune times later in the conversation.
Anticipate opposing claims	As you prepare for your debate, consider anticipating opposing claims. Researching different perspectives can help you counter your opponent's arguments. It can also help you understand where you and your opponent agree.
Use visual aids	If a debater is participating in a panel discussion or a debate on a live stream, pictures and graphs can be a great asset, especially if his opponent has none. Visual aids confer an automatic aura of authority on the person using them, particularly if they are well-prepared. (That's what this wiki is for 😉)
Don't argue	A heated argument is a real spectacle and can only hurt your position. As a result of such an exchange, globbers are merely hardened in their belief that flat-earthers are fanatics, and flat-earth sympathisers are turned off by the shouting. Don't get ensnared in a shouting match. Your opponent will frequently try to lure you into such an argument when they have their backs to the wall, because they know that the memory of the argument will erase the memory of how badly you trounced them in the debate. You can use your opponent's inflammatory statements to your advantage by acknowledging their good points and accentuating their bad points.
Address your argument's flaws	If your opponent adequately prepares for the debate, they may be ready to counter your argument's weak points. Try to be proactive by admitting these flaws and providing appropriate solutions. This action shows that you support your claim even after considering its weaknesses.
Ask questions	By asking questions in a debate, you can allow your opponent to provide clarity and effectively address their argument. Asking questions also helps you verify the quality of opposing evidence. For instance, you could ask your opponent where they obtained a statistic or how they would respond to your counterargument. Many professionals prepare questions before the debate to ensure they understand their opponent's main points, though you can also think of questions during the debate.
Answer questions directly	Your opponent may ask questions to better understand your perspective or address your claim's weaknesses. By answering questions directly, you can demonstrate that you're listening to your opponent and care about providing relevant responses. Try to understand the question and ask for clarification if you're unsure what your opponent means. If you're unsure how to answer, consider being honest and saying that you want to return to the question when you have the right information.

Logical Fallacies

A logical fallacy is an argument that may sound convincing or true but is actually flawed. Logical fallacies are leaps of logic that lead us to an unsupported conclusion. People may commit a logical fallacy unintentionally, due to poor reasoning, or intentionally, in order to manipulate others.

This list provides an alphabetical overview of the most common types of logical fallacies. Learn the logical fallacies and avoid using them in your arguments!

Type	Definition	Example
Ad hominem fallacy	Your argument addresses the character, motives, or personal attributes of someone instead of the content of their argument.	You don’t know anything about speech disorders! You don’t have one yourself!
Anecdotal evidence fallacy	You use a personal experience or rare example instead of substantive evidence or sound logic.	Person A: Smoking is bad for your health. Person B: No, it’s not! My grandpa smoked, and he died at 98!
Appeal to authority fallacy	You claim that your statement is true because a figure of (false or anonymous) authority made it.	Person A: I’m going to try a new medication for my migraines. Person B: According to scientists, the best way to alleviate migraines is by using essential oils.
Appeal to ignorance fallacy	You claim that your statement is true because there is no evidence against it. Or you claim that something is false because there is no evidence in favor of it.	Person A: You should try this new medication. Person B: Is it safe for children? Person A: There’s no evidence that it isn’t, so you should try it.
Appeal to pity fallacy	You try to convince your audience by provoking a feeling of guilt or pity with your argument.	You should buy this bike, because I put so much work into restoring it after my father passed away.
Bandwagon fallacy (ad populum, appeal to popular opinion)	You claim that something is true because it’s the opinion of the majority.	Of course you should buy an iPhone. 1.5 billion people can’t be wrong!
Burden of proof fallacy	You are making a claim but evading the burden of proof by pretending that you’ve fulfilled it or by proposing that the other person is responsible for disproving your claim.	Person A: We should invest in a social media campaign! Person B: Why? Person A: Why not?
Circular reasoning fallacy	You are using a statement to prove the reasons for the statement (A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true).	Person A: Jesse said Marc is very friendly, because he’s very nice. Person B: Did he say what’s so nice about him? Person A: He’s very friendly!
Correlation-causation fallacy	You assume a cause-and-effect relationship because two things are correlated (in reality, correlation does not imply causation).	The sun is shining, and there have been more burglaries than usual. It’s clear that the sun causes people to steal.
Equivocation fallacy	You use a word or phrase in your argument that can mean two things or causes ambiguity in a different way.	Fries are unhealthy. Apple fries are fries, so they must be unhealthy.
False dilemma fallacy (false dichotomy fallacy)	You suggest there are only two sides to a debate or dilemma when there are many more.	If I don’t buy the expensive new headphones, I’ll have to use the old, broken ones.
Hasty generalization fallacy (overgeneralization fallacy)	You make a claim based on very little evidence or on evidence that’s not representative.	Two people I know experienced headaches after eating potato chips, so potato chips cause headaches.
Loaded question fallacy	You ask a question that contains a controversial or subjective assumption that makes the other person feel guilty or attacked, making it difficult for them to answer honestly.	So you’re going to marry that cheating boyfriend?
Middle ground fallacy (argument to moderation)	You suggest that the truth is always a compromise between two opposing or extreme opinions or positions.	Person A: Nobody should drive while under the influence of alcohol. Person B: Actually, drunk driving is totally fine. Person C: I guess that some people should drive drunk, and others shouldn’t.
No true Scotsman fallacy	You make a generalization about a group, but when confronted with contradictory evidence, you suggest that that case is not representative of the group you were generalizing about.	Person A: All redheaded people have higher pain tolerance. Person B: Mary is a redhead, and she has very low pain tolerance. Person A: That doesn’t count! She’s strawberry blonde and not a true redhead.
Post hoc (ergo propter hoc) fallacy	You claim that one event is the result of another event, simply because they one happened after the other.	You sneezed, and then Sally got sick. You infected her!
Red herring fallacy	You try to redirect a conversation away from its original topic by introducing an irrelevant piece of information to distract the reader or listener.	Police officer: I’ve pulled you over for speeding. Offender: You shouldn’t be wasting your time on me; there are murderers out there!
Slippery slope fallacy	You claim that an initial event or action will trigger a series of other events and lead to an extreme, undesirable outcome.	Person A: We should lower the legal drinking age. Person B: No! If we do that, we’ll have 10-year-olds getting drunk in bars!
Straw man fallacy	You distort someone else’s argument to make it easier to attack or refute, because you’re not addressing their actual argument.	Person A: We should increase benefits for unemployed single mothers during the first year after childbirth. Person B: So you believe we should incentivize women to become single mothers and live off the tax money of hardworking citizens?
Sunk cost fallacy	You make an irrational, suboptimal decision to continue with an action or project because of past investments.	This movie is so boring, but we might as well keep watching. We’re already 30 minutes in!
Tu quoque fallacy (appeal to hypocrisy)	You attempt to discredit someone else’s argument by stating that their actions or behavior are not in line with their argument (so they’re a hypocrite). They may well be a hypocrite, but it doesn’t make their argument incorrect.	Person A: Killing animals is wrong. Person B: You ate meat 10 years ago; you’ve done the same thing!

Gallery

Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies
Common Fallacies
Fallacy Robots
Burden of proof