7 Clues That You Might Be Debating an Idiot

7. False Dichotomies

If the person you’re debating insists on framing your views between two extremes or insists on framing the debate as an either-or scenario when the reality is more complex, you may be debating an idiot.

There are many examples I see almost every day on this. You’re either for government regulation in the name of stemming global warming or you are anti-environment. If you advocate for cutting waste in our defense budget you’re anti-military. If you don’t like the candidate from party X, you must be voting for candidate from party Y.

Although, there is a chance you aren’t debating an idiot if you encounter this. You may be debating a demagogue. The difference is the idiot doesn’t understand the flaw in what they’re doing.