The Nature of Opposition

From Zanecorpwiki

At 30 I'm probably to young to really have a good feel for this yet, but it really does seem like there's a "tone" to the way we oppose that changes with different times and places. Is our opposition rational and cool, or emotional and passionate? Also, what are the modes of opposition? Argumentation? Caricature?

At any time, there will of course be a mix. I don't mean to say that there are "ages of opposition" typified by a strong affiliation with particular modes and tones. But at any time, it is possible to dissect the rhetorical tactics and categorize them into a useful taxonomy.

Count the number of times opponents assert false propositions in order to prove the opposite point and you've got a count of the Straw Man tactic. Count the number of times opponents admit genuine benefit, and you've got strong evidence for a "net positive" rational argument. The way and what we count would, of course, be rightly subject to much debate and scrutiny, but there's nothing to stop us from at least moving towards good data on this stuff.

Straw Men

My personal hypothesis--that I'd be gratified to see proved right, but relieved to see proved wrong--is that straw man tactics have been on the sharp upswing. Personally, it also seems like the hyperbole has also been on the rise, but that would be something much harder to count. Maybe impossible really.