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I've been in a rather long, vicious and protracted argument with my best-friends girl-friend. At this point in the discussion, I don't feel safe in the same room with her, especially if there are sharp objects around. She's repeatedly called me a misogynist because I, as a man, think I have a valid opinion about what it's like to be a woman. I caller her a misandrist as a facetious response, and she mocked me and said "lol, Men's Equal Rights.!!!1!"
Considering we've been having this discussion for like, four straight days, I'm not going to bother laying out anything that happened, but I am curious about this.
Can a (wo)man hold a valid opinion about what it is like being a (wo)man?
Can a (wo)man hold a valid opinion about what it is like being a (wo)man?
Absolutely. Why re-invent the wheel? There's a mountain of wisdom in the literature and traditions of mankind from which to derive a valid opinion. Besides, men and women live with each other, talk with each other, observe each other, etc. - they just need to pay attention.
As an aside, the notion that "you can't have a valid opinion about XYZ unless you are XYZ, have been XYZ, have done XYZ or have personally experienced XYZ, etc." is a total canard. It's made by people who don't want to be understood because being understood deprives them of excuses. It's made by people who want to dismiss perfectly legitimate arguments on the basis of the messenger's supposed lack of credentials.
Absolutely. Why re-invent the wheel? There's a mountain of wisdom in the literature and traditions of mankind from which to derive a valid opinion. Besides, men and women live with each other, talk with each other, observe each other, etc. - they just need to pay attention.
As an aside, the notion that "you can't have a valid opinion about XYZ unless you are XYZ, have been XYZ, have done XYZ or have personally experienced XYZ, etc." is a total canard. It's made by people who don't want to be understood because being understood deprives them of excuses. It's made by people who want to dismiss perfectly legitimate arguments on the basis of the messenger's supposed lack of credentials.
Konraden, if you take this persons advice on women you will get slapped in the face.
Absolutely. Why re-invent the wheel? There's a mountain of wisdom in the literature and traditions of mankind from which to derive a valid opinion. Besides, men and women live with each other, talk with each other, observe each other, etc. - they just need to pay attention.
As an aside, the notion that "you can't have a valid opinion about XYZ unless you are XYZ, have been XYZ, have done XYZ or have personally experienced XYZ, etc." is a total canard. It's made by people who don't want to be understood because being understood deprives them of excuses. It's made by people who want to dismiss perfectly legitimate arguments on the basis of the messenger's supposed lack of credentials.
I'm trying to find the exact fallacy that represents, by the way--the best I could come up with is Ad Hominem, but I feel like it is its own sub-class.
I'm trying to find the exact fallacy that represents, by the way--the best I could come up with is Ad Hominem, but I feel like it is its own sub-class.
Ad Hominem is a sub-class of Red Herrings (distraction from the actual issue). I guess that would make this disenfranchisement (best I could find) fallacy to be a sub-sub-class.
I've been in a rather long, vicious and protracted argument with my best-friends girl-friend. At this point in the discussion, I don't feel safe in the same room with her, especially if there are sharp objects around. She's repeatedly called me a misogynist because I, as a man, think I have a valid opinion about what it's like to be a woman. I caller her a misandrist as a facetious response, and she mocked me and said "lol, Men's Equal Rights.!!!1!"
Considering we've been having this discussion for like, four straight days, I'm not going to bother laying out anything that happened, but I am curious about this.
Can a (wo)man hold a valid opinion about what it is like being a (wo)man?
Yesserie, the whole world went to pot when the men gave the women the right to vote, go to school, wear shoes, learn to drive and work out side the kitchen. Maybe all those Muslums arn't so stupid after all.
Konraden, if you take this persons advice on women you will get slapped in the face.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
I don't think Western was offering advice on women, just input on the fallacy. And I normally disagree entirely with Western anyway, I think he's friggen nuts.
But he's right in this case.
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