Okay, if you know me, you probably know that I’m a skeptic, and while I’m not a scientist by profession, I would like to think that I’ve learned a little bit about science. However, being a skeptic doesn’t mean that you have to be a fountain of scientific knowledge. Mostly it’s a matter of understanding logical fallacies and techniques used by people promoting pseudoscience, claims of the paranormal, and conspiracy theories, or as I like to call it, bunk.
One technique most often used is the tactic of moving goalposts. Creationists tend to use this a lot, but it is definitely being used all the time by conspiracy theorists. I can best demonstrate this by using the creationist argument that “there are no transitional fossils.” Well, whenever one is presented, like a dinosaur with feathers and forearms that are useless as arms but resemble small wings, hardcore creationist spokespeople will say, “Well, this doesn’t look enough like a bird,” or something to that effect. If you meet their condiions, they change the rules, or raise the bar.
This came to light recently for me in the form of my response to conspiracy theorists who hold to the theory that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and there is a conspiracy to hide this from the public. So, everyone who accepts the proof of his birth certificate and newspaper clippings of his birth announcement provide them with what they say doesn’t exist. “where’s his birth certificate?” they ask. “Well, right here it is,” is the response. They’ll see the birth certificate and say, “it’s not the long form birth certificate,” or “it’s obviously Photoshopped.” They’ll ask for corroborating evidence and dismiss the newspaper birth announcement as either a fake, or not proving anything
Well, I found my way out of this little fallacy is to simply not play it. Do you believe that Barack Obama was actually born in Kenya? Prove it. Many things will do it. Produce a birth certificate from Kenya. Produce any document supporting your claim. After all, you want to cite the law. Well, the law puts the responsibility on the plantif for the burden of proof. So, prove your claim.
Sometimes the best way to fight is to let your opponent fight themselves. When presented with an allegation, simply have them prove it with evidence. Direct evidence is the best, especially when making a very serious claim such as circumventing the US Constitution. When your opponent can produce no evidence, you can simply pull out one piece of yours and win.
Keep in mind, though that arguing with a zealot means understanding that you’re never going to convert them. You’re simply performing for those in observance, who may be swayed if you do nothing but ignore the zealots. So fight them, by all means call their accusations for what they are, bunk. When they make an accusation, ask for proof. When they can’t provide proof ask them if they have any proof, and get them to admit, if you can, that they have no proof. Then present your evidence to the contrary. Accusations that persist without evidence are groundless accusations. Accusations that persist despite evidence to the contrary are lies.
By the way, even if Barack Obama was born in Kenya, he would be an American Citizebn for the same reason that John McCain is an American citizen (born in Panama). He was born of an American parent. However, the point is moot, because he was born in Hawaii in 1961. I have seen proof.
