Flawed Logic

Logic

Synonym, according to Dictionary.com: “science of reasoning, sound judgment, coherence, good sense, thesis, and antithesis and synthesis.” Also, “argumentation, sanity, rationale, connection, train of thought, and deduction.” Antonym: “unreasonableness.”

Those of us current events junkies hear a lot about “flawed logic.” In the context of current events the phrase is typically applied by trolls and Fox News “journalists” as a way of dismissing anyone with a point of view that is different from their own, i.e. “what you are saying is not in line with what I think, therefore your logic is flawed.” Often these folks will back up their opinion with comments such as “the truth hurts.” Because their opinion is a fact, and that sucks for everyone that doesn't agree.

We could dissect the definitions of fact and opinion and how they've just been employed, but I don't want to. Yeah, that's all. A fact is a fact and an opinion is an opinion. It's not rocket surgery, y'all. How we arrive at an opinion can be based on facts, but also individual experiences, thoughts, and ideas, and those are not necessarily facts. “The truth hurts,” is another one. It's been said that you're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. There is a broad populace that either did not get that memo or didn't feel like reading it. And, really. What's more flawed about a person's logic when they ardently refuse to even consider anything “truth” other than his-or-her own thoughts??

My logic may not match yours, but that's not the same thing as my logic being flawed. I'm a huge fan of being online, but being online has given us a terrific platform for shouting down others without actually shouting. A person can literally tell someone to fuck off and die and never actually have to face that person or listen to them. It's the equivalent of placing one's fingers in one's ears and saying, “lalalalalaaaa.” People can be “ALL CAPS PEOPLE” with no repercussions of verbal abuse, infliction of emotional harm, or hatespeech. Their first amendment rights preclude everyone else's right to not be publicly lambasted.

Okay, so that one isn't in the Constitution, and I think most people don't publicly lambaste others just for stating a point that's different from their own. But that's just one woman's opinion. My grandmother used to say that your rights end where the next person's nose begins. I wish more people put more forethought into what they say and how they say it online the way they do in real life.

So does a difference in opinion, experience, or expression really mean someone else's logic is flawed, or is logic, like so many other things in this world, subjective??

Human experience is not like math, where 2+2 will always equal 4. People hear things, and feel things, and think, so what seems like it should equal 4 to you might not to me. Is that inherently illogical?? And, if so, to whom??