I think it's mostly intellectual laziness. Though yes, that leads to the mind-reading we so often see.
Some people don't want to think or have their views challenged. They just want to feel that they're "right." And what better way to do that than to only ever argue against an imaginary argument that you can easily defeat? Or failing that…
I think it's mostly intellectual laziness. Though yes, that leads to the mind-reading we so often see.
Some people don't want to think or have their views challenged. They just want to feel that they're "right." And what better way to do that than to only ever argue against an imaginary argument that you can easily defeat? Or failing that, to decide that everybody who disagrees with you is evil and/or stupid. Genuinely addressing the content of people's arguments means you risk discovering that you're the one missing something.
I think it's mostly intellectual laziness. Though yes, that leads to the mind-reading we so often see.
Some people don't want to think or have their views challenged. They just want to feel that they're "right." And what better way to do that than to only ever argue against an imaginary argument that you can easily defeat? Or failing that, to decide that everybody who disagrees with you is evil and/or stupid. Genuinely addressing the content of people's arguments means you risk discovering that you're the one missing something.
Who has time for that?!🙄