LogFAQs > #967740674

I've noticed in a lot of online arguments and debates some people think that calling out logical fallacies by name is an actual debate tactic. Someone is insulting you instead of responding to your arguments, and they think just shouting "AD HOMINEM! HE DID AN AD HOMINEM OH MY GOD!" from the top of their lungs is an actual debate point in their favour. Generally I see logical fallacies almost used like an appeal to authority. You call out a fallacy's name and imply or say your opponent used it, bam you scored a point. You can perfectly explain why insulting you instead of addressing your argument isn't an actual argument without just shouting ad hominem. In general if someone committed a logical fallacy against you, you can explain that without naming the fallacy. That's why it's a logical fallacy. Because its fallaciousness can be derived from logic. No reason to invoke its name at all.