William
After decades of observing the funny nature of people's arguments/responses, one stands out the most for me. Namely, when 'alpha' personality types always have to disagree so-as to always be in the right, even though they actually contradict themselves or make their argument weaker. I've looked in my little logical fallacy guide book (Wikipedia) but I cannot seem to find something specific to this type of argument. Or perhaps I overlooked one and simply need to be reminded. Or perhaps it is not even a logical fallacy argument at all.
The reason I want to get to the bottom of this now is because last night I had a brief experience that was so nonsensical I vowed then to get to the bottom of it. I was talking with a 'friend' about how I am about to switch over to a new cell phone mobile provider as well as purchase a new cell phone. My friend is one of those people who tends to find fault with everything you say just so he can disagree and push his own opinion which always has to be right. He suggested instead I just use a phone without a plan and connect to the internet via cell phone wifi and then accept and make calls via Google Voice... for free. Basically saying I don't need to pay for a plan. I told him his idea was neat of course but I want the capability of being able to call 911 (which Google Voice does not support); I want to the proper 911 ability with gps tracing. You know. So instantly he has to downplay it and he literally said "Why do you need 911?" and looking at me like I am being unreasonable. I told him in case of an emergency (an obvious statement which I really didn't need to explain). He kept debating it. Yet he himself I know would NOT even dream of going without 911 since he has a wife and kids. He even went as far as saying emergencies are so rare that I could just call a neighbour if something happened. Basically he is just trying to disagree for the sake of disagreeing, obviously clueless to how contradictory he is being. And apparently sees no value in my opinion (or my health and safety); you'd think out of respect he would urge someone to always have the ability to call emergency services.
I am not interested in the nature of this denial or why his alpha-male tendency is doing this. And I am not needing advice with how to deal with it or how to navigate through it (I have long since stopped trying to always bend for other people's quirks because it suppresses my need to be able to just state my opinion without vast debating rituals). What I am looking for is a specific name for this type of logical fallacy argument: disagreeing with a response so-as to always be the opposite of the other person. I want to be able to research this more.
Thanks experts!
@Rusty Good point, I was assuming he was contradicting himself when he never actually did that. I guess I assumed because I knew (or felt from experience) that if I suggest he too doesn't need 911 then suddenly he would tell me why he needs it. It was wrong of me to assume. But still, his constantly disagreeing is what concerns me the most though I should have not implied any contradiction on his part with my family comment. There is still discreet contradiction in a way though... like claiming to be my friend but invalidating most of my opinions and minimizing the importance of my concern for safety. Not my definition of a friend perhaps.
All answers so far I have liked! I wish I could mark each one as best answer because in this case all opinions are important and meaningful to me.
Answer
Not a logical fallacy. He may use different logical fallacies in his arguments, but the need to always take an opposite opinion is a personality trait.
Not a logical fallacy. He may use different logical fallacies in his arguments, but the need to always take an opposite opinion is a personality trait.
what is the most interesting thing you have recently read? anything?
Cheesebrad
i just read an article about the Corrupted Blood incident in WoW in '05 and thought it fascinating.
read anything interesting lately? it can be from any source, newspaper, books, wikipedia, i don't care.
Answer
i just finished reading a book called the bronze horseman
its an amazing book, it is a series of three... if people went crazy for twilight i couldn't imagine what would happen if they got their hands on this!
its about the war between russia and germany and how a soldier and a young lady fall madly in love but are separated by the war and by family. the three books show them overcome amazing things its action packed, romantic, funny. i couldn't put it down for a second.. it was amazing.. as the books progress so does their love, their lives and their problems... i think i might go and read it again now
i just finished reading a book called the bronze horseman
its an amazing book, it is a series of three... if people went crazy for twilight i couldn't imagine what would happen if they got their hands on this!
its about the war between russia and germany and how a soldier and a young lady fall madly in love but are separated by the war and by family. the three books show them overcome amazing things its action packed, romantic, funny. i couldn't put it down for a second.. it was amazing.. as the books progress so does their love, their lives and their problems... i think i might go and read it again now
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