[mrleiter]

It's a cheap trick to start an argument with "controversial opinion" or any other similar phrase.

The funny truth in this case is that it's not only cheap, but a factual counterpoint to your argument:

By stating that what is to follow is controversial, you give a prior to reading your argument. So that when the reader evaluates it, he already does so from the perspective that it's controversial and thus one shouldn't be too harsh in criticizing it further. This is the real life application of the Bayes theorem from the author of the linked article.

You see? You say it's overrated. But you use it anyway.

So the next time you try to shield yourself from critique, try to build a better argument.

[Chris2048]

> when the reader evaluates it, he already does so from the perspective that it's controversial

He does so from the perspective that the author believes it's controversial. If you are required to actually assume the opinion is controversial because the author said so, I'd start every paragraph with "you owe me money".

[new2628]

Now that's a pretentious dismissal if I ever heard one.