Warren Smith vs. CONTRAPOINTS... a critical thinking DEMONSTRATION

#jkrowling #criticalthinking #debate
Warren Smith conducts a critical thinking exercise with Contrapoints.
The original Contrapoints video was 2 hours long so editing was required. Rather than engaging with the argument itself, the goal was to objectively engage with the logic being implemented using critical thinking techniques. I strive to not allow my opinion to affect the analysis.

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On X @WTSmith17

Link to original Contrapoints video:

[SecretScholars]

I have noticed that ever since the ContraPoints video there has been an influx of bot accounts or subscribers that are only here to try and effect channel performance. Whenever a video is posted they dump subs and then re-sub on an older video. It will not stop the channel, but I appreciate the support of all the real people out there.

[ashleyparisio]

I've known of and heard about Contrapoints, yet never have watched any of her content until now. She's a perfect example of someone who, just because they're eloquent, verbose (after she scrutinizes verbosity herself), and speaks with strong confidence, thinks it makes them correct. She's literally dismissing constructive and thought-provoking discussion- that in itself is social and intellectual poison. It's amazing how many people fall for bullshit simply because it's coming from the mouth of a smart-sounding person. Great video, dude. I'm really enjoying your content!

[milton]

“I’m so morally superior, I don’t need to actually prove what I am saying”

“This is so obvious, that I cannot even articulate why it is true”

“It is absolutely okay to harass people that have different opinions from yours - even if you cannot show why their opinion is wrong and can’t even be bothered to make an attempt to prove your own viewpoints”

[KillerKlipsch]

I am so relieved to see intellects like Warren stand up to these Narcissists.

[jonathanwilliams]

Asking for evidence is a "trap". Wow you can't make this stuff up.

[toastedgiant]

When the claim ‘sex is real’ is described as ‘ambiguous’ you know you’re not dealing with an honest interlocutor

[penneyburgess]

I love how she says that debating is not a good way to prove your point, but it’s exactly what she’s doing.
My bells always go off when someone uses the word ‘obviously’, and subsequently gaslights everyone in the conversation that agrees with her as morally superior and anyone who disagrees is a Nazi, a bigot and trans phobic. She gives no room for a complete conversation and technically is verbally bullying everyone.

[dr.rationalist]

I realized mainly four tactics of Contrapoints here and they all try to prevent people from critical thinking and building an own opinion on subjects:

1.) Don't try to develop a differentiated opinion on a subject. Just be "honest" and tell whether you are with us or against us. If you are an ally, you don't have to think anymore, we just expect 100% loyalty. Otherwise you are an enemy.

2) Beware of people who encourage you of critical thinking, they want to lead you in a trap. You are in danger! Just believe us, we care for you as long as you are 100% loyal and refrain from establishing an own opinion.

3) Don't think our enemies are innocent just because they haven't said anything of what we accuse them of. That makes them even more dangerous. We know that they are guilty.

4) Enemy is everyone who is not an ally. Enemies are not human, thy are scum, vermin. Therefore we are not bound to human behavior if we deal with them.

[julietstephens]

Real person right here; I've just discovered your channel this morning and I'm really grateful for your grounded and measured analysis and perspective. Thank you.

[janetrichardson]

When you immediately label someone who disagrees with you a bigot, it’s shows that person’s prejudice and willingness to have a good faith discussion.

[silentfenrir]

JK Rowling has nuanced position on trans and it's impact on the women's rights. Rights she is passionate about as a survivor of domestic violence. She holds most of the same values on every other lines and is nowhere near a bigot. They should hold her as a role model as a single mother who made billions and practically demoted herself to millionaire with her charity work.

[ElleryOmur]

The ironic thing is that many would label contrapoints as a bigot for being open to a discussion about trans being excluded from some sports. Contrapoints is picking and choosing what counts as a bigot.

[selfthinker]

I have a friend who is semi-woke, a fan of Contrapoint, part of the LGBT community and does know a lot about the trans community. (I dislike the term "woke" as it means different things to different people, but I suspect in this comment section you all know what I mean.) The good thing is that I can argue with him to some degree without the discussion derailing.

I asked him about his view on JK Rowling and if/how she is supposed to be transphobic. His view was that she "obviously" is. When we talked about the same quote that Warren dissected in the video that started this, my friend said that the quote is a "dog whistle". (From Wikipedia: "Dog whistles use language that appears normal to the majority but communicates specific things to intended audiences.") He said, there is nothing offensive in her tweets and that apparently that's her perfidious plan to seem innocent, say nothing that can be proven to be problematic, while at the same time signalling to everyone "in the know" to attack the trans community.

In essence, he was saying that she didn't say anything problematic on the surface, but that she meant something completely different to what she wrote. And although there is no proof for that, he "just knows" that to be true and "obvious".

I don't understand at all how anyone can think that way.
Hypothetically I can understand why someone might theorise that her public words could be a dog whistle. But I would then go looking for proof and only believe it if I found it.

[Quotheraving]

A lot of Rowling's supposed transphobia boils down to "A rapey man who becomes a trans woman is still rapey - except now 'she' has access to Women only spaces - This is a problem no?"

[yewknight]

The context of that trans activists are death eater comment is important here, just before the audio clip we hear she is talking about people stalking, harassing, and threatening her. She compares THOSE activists who use terror to try to silence her to death eaters. I used to blindly hate Rowling but digging into that exact piece of context made me realize how aggressively the media was spinning anything she says into absurdity.

[m.a]

JK only started focusing on the prison system after several cases of men with no history of being trans, suddenly, upon being caught, decided they are women and fought the legal system with the full funding and support of lgbtq advocacy groups, to ultimately win and be jailed in the female wards. You would expect any group, be it religious or social to call out the bad apples but apparently there are no bad apples once you cross the border into alphabet land.

[LalaDepala_]

I think Contrapoints is the perfect example of being so open minded that your brain falls out.

[crikey]

Just letting you know I am a genuine subscriber.I think your contrapoints video is valuable and should not be taken down.

[wardkerr]

"I am not going to argue any more about whether J. K. Rowling is transphobic..." is an interesting statement in a video where no argument on that point has been offered.

[HajheerForoutan]

I think what you're doing is amazing. You're really the first one I've seen diving into the constructions of arguments and identifying the logical inconsistencies. I think the issue with a the average person today is they don't understand nuances and how subtle things can form completely irrational thoughts and arguments, your patience also lends a hand to you being able to reach a lot of people, I hope you get big enough to be able to make more people think critically and don't just say things without understanding them