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by s_m_t 3767 days ago
If your desired outcome is to merely discredit your opponent and win the argument, maybe. If you are in pursuit of truth, no.
1 comments

Once it has become clear that someone is a "Lord Voldemort", it seems to me there's little value in continued careful consideration of their positions. At that point, if it's possible, why not discredit them and allow the rest of the world to start ignoring them and spend time on more promising endeavours?
"Discrediting" only works on some people. If it was universally applicable then Donald Trump wouldn't be the leading Republican candidate.
I'm convinced Trump could kill Marco Rubio on live TV in Times Square and receive a bump in the polls.
Well, Trump has basically already claimed as much himself.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/24/donald-trump-...

Agreed. My argument was vs my parent's statement that it wouldn't be useful (for the pursuit of truth) even when it was possible.