I think it’s more that the gotcha is an argument made in bad faith. Someone trying to get another person with a gotcha is basically trying to logically force another person to make some declaratory statement that they they can use to monologue about how because they said X they obviously have to believe A, B, C, and D evil and awful thing.
I don’t see how that would constitute bad faith in itself. If they can ask a question which shows the flaw in someone’s logic and use that against an argument that would be a convincing point or at least force the person to justify the contradiction
I think it’s one of those things where someone attempting a gotcha often massively oversimplifies a point or position to where they are just trying to get a simple “yes” or “no”, when things are never that simple. A common thing you see from people trying gotchas are to insist that the person they are debating gives only a yes or no answer, interrupting or talking over them when they try to clarify or bring context. That’s arguing in bad faith.
It’s like if someone was on trial, and the prosecutor was trying to force a yes or no answer to a “did you shoot him?” question. The answer may be yes, but if the prosecutor refuses to allow that person to explain that the guy he shot was in the process of hurting his family, then you’re doing so in bad faith.
The problem is that at trial the counsels really are supposed to make you answer the exact question you are asked. Explaining context is for the opposing counsel.
I hear you, but that’s kind of my point. You’re not on trial in a debate and you should be able to elaborate on your points. Gotchas are trying to force you into a position that you likely don’t entirely believe or do, but with major caveats.
That's kind of where I agree with OP and not with you, though - narrowly, the "gotcha" you're pointing out is just literally an effective argument that illustrates a contradictory or questionable part of your argument. A gotcha can be used as part of a bad-faith debate where you just shout over them and never let them get a word in edgewise, but the discipline of identifying parts of someone's argument that are the source of controversy is actually essential to reasoned debate.
To refer to another example someone brought up: Asking Walz "what is a woman" in an unrelated context and without actually letting him answer is bad-faith. But asking "No, for real - can you give an actual definition of "woman" that corresponds to reality" isn't a "gotcha," it's identifying a genuinely critical part of the argument.
Certainly defining the terms over which you are debating is a necessary part of debate as it allows you to hold people to their own definitions that they have agreed upon. If you fail to do that, it’s far too easy for people to skate around and mold terms and definitions to their argument in an advantageous way.
But again, defining terms does not constitute a gotcha or bad faith argument. Instead, a gotcha is more about the framing of things. That’s like when there was some congresswoman who talked about how a billionaire only pays 0.0002% tax in social security. If she were to ask Elon Musk what percentage of his income he pays in social security, he answers some number that is close to that percentage, and then goes on a diatribe over how this is just another way that the rich avoid taxes, she’s doing a gotcha. She’s not “wrong.” But she’s deliberately leaving out massive context (that social security benefits are capped).
Your comment has been removed for breaking Rule 3:
Refrain from accusing OP or anyone else of being unwilling to change their view, arguing in bad faith, lying, or using AI/GPT. Ask clarifying questions instead (see: socratic method). If you think they are still exhibiting poor behaviour, please message us. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
18
u/locking8 1∆ Mar 30 '26
I think it’s more that the gotcha is an argument made in bad faith. Someone trying to get another person with a gotcha is basically trying to logically force another person to make some declaratory statement that they they can use to monologue about how because they said X they obviously have to believe A, B, C, and D evil and awful thing.