Poisoning the well

Poisoning the well is a term used to describe a tactic used in arguments and debates. It's a tactic used with gay abandon here in Century Village. Names and labels are tossed back and forth in a never ending cascade.

The strategy is to cast aspersions on your opponent with the intention of creating a bias against them, in doing so you attempt to discredit them and by association destroy their position. Some people are pretty good at it, I guess they had a lot of practice.
Usually the party using this tactic has no reasonable defense or point of view to offer and resorts to attacking the person rather than the issue at hand. It's not something you would need if you have a sound argument .

If you have the evidence to back up your side, you pound on it.
Without evidence or rationale you have to pound on the table.
Be aware of this tactic, and be wary of those using it. Most attempts at poisoning the well play into the bias that already exists in the minds of listeners, if they are religious minded you call your opponent a heathen. If they are loyal Americans call him or her a traitor or a commie, and so on.

Branding your adversary with a negative stereotype is effective in winning a debate. Heres a little scenario that demonstrates how to handle it if it comes your way.

Someone calls you crazy , you counter by saying “Why would you say that ? Is it because you think everyone who doesn't think like you is crazy? “
Someone says “ Don't listen to them, they are just a bunch of no good immigrants / Africans / Commies ”or any discriminatory term aimed at a group.
You reply “ Why don't you and I change places for a while, you come over here and act like you are me, I'll go over there and act like a bigot”

By doing this you are destroying them and their attempt at poisoning by pointing out their bigotry, in effect the tables have been turned.

The way to counter to these types of remarks is to give your reply in the form of a question, preferably a question that addresses the motive rather than the content, hopefully it makes them look
bad no matter the answer, it should be aimed at the motive underlying the remark rather than the person making it. Heres a few strategies to illustrate the point.

They say You say.
“You're a %#*& %# “(sexual ) “Aren't you a little too preoccupied with sex ?
“You don't belong here” “ Who gets to decide where I belong ,I hope it's not you ?“
“you're just a troublemaker” “ Trouble for who ?”
“F#%* you” “ Not now but thanks for offering. Now can we
get back to the issue.”

Sometimes all sides engage in it and it turns into a mudslinging match. Usually there's no way to tell who won a mudslinging match , because both sides are covered in mud.

Not playing the game when it comes to poisoning the well is not really an option, When mud is slung at you, it's hard to ignore. Recognize it for what it is and have a strategy to deal with it .Be aware that anyone using the tactic of poisoning the well probably has a few planks missing from their platform. It is mostly used when they are backed into a corner and can't find anything else to say.

Mr Israel's remarks about the people who voted down his WIFI initiative is a glaring example of an attempt to poison the well, Stating that he will not be controlled by a mob, then posting a picture of gangsters with accompany remarks with the same theme on his website indicates that it's deliberate and contrived.
The question I would ask if given the chance, would be “ Mr President are you ducking the mob
or the issues. ….. or both ?”

NEIL J MOORE