Is it OK to Use Abuse Tactics to Discredit an Argument?

Wow, just absolutely wow! What a world we live in. Earlier this week, a 16 year old (Greta Thunberg, you might have heard of her) gave a passionate and heart-felt speech at the UN summit. She called out world leaders for not taking climate change seriously, for putting the future on the younger generation and for inadequate goals. What she got in response however was high profile, conservative minded media personalities looking to bully and discredit her. Not for her ideals, no. For her age, for her mental health and for her autism.  It so is not OK to use abuse tactics to discredit a person or their argument.

Putting Aside the Who

Let’s ignore the fact that the person attacked was Greta Thunberg for a moment. Whether you agree with what she is saying or what she stands for is totally irrelevant.

We live in a world of free opinions. Divided by people who believe this thing or that thing. Of course, I too have my opinions and actually, they largely support her cause. However, putting all this aside. What we have is a society where adults attack and belittle a child figure because she stands for something, defied their beliefs, is a child, has a developmental condition and has suffered with her mental health (and still does). Not just any adults either, public personalities.

In short, what we see is an attack on the person’s societally perceived shortcomings (I would argue personal strengths) rather than effectively counter-arguing the point. You know who else resorts to these kinds of tactics? Abusers.

The Relationship Between Abuser and Victim

In abusive relationships; there are many ways that the abuser controls and manipulates their victim. Blame is one approach:

“her skirt was short, she wanted it”

“it’s not my fault he misunderstood”

“they didn’t say no”

The examples could go on.

It’s how they keep them from leaving and it is how they fight in court (in the too few times where it comes to that). In other words, rather than fighting that their actions were right (because of course they weren’t) they seek to discredit the character of their victim and blame them.

On a domestic level it will be to friends, family members and public officials. They do this by lying, distorting information or by picking on things like their mental/physical health, beliefs or aspects of what makes them who they are presenting them as negatives. This serves to devalue their victim in the eyes of those around whilst also continuing the attack to devalue their sense of self-worth.

This is no secret; it is well established that this is how those who abuse people around them tend to operate. There is literature and support media all over that confirms this and many readers will of course have lived and seen this themselves. I know I have. From the moment I started school, I’ve been caught in the web of people like this. When that’s the case and it no longer is, you learn to recognise these behaviours for what they are.

Back to Greta Thunberg

I don’t care whether you agree with Thunberg or not, though you know what? It is strong and passionate activists historically that have made changes for the best. What’s more is that the attack on her autism and mental health (as if they are the same damn thing), her age and beliefs are systemic of how an abuser discredits victims.

I’m not seeing valid arguments as to why she is wrong; I’m seeing personal attacks and attempts to use these things against her. This is unacceptable in any context. Perhaps those who do would like to discredit Bill Gates or Steve Jobs (both have autism) from the technology their businesses put into our hands? Would they seek to discredit Martin Luthor King Jr for his battle with depression? Hell, Abraham Lincoln was famously (or infamously) suicidal after certain bereavements. Of course not. Whilst many of these pioneers have had trouble in their times, to discredit them for these reasons despite what they’ve achieved for these reasons is moronic. I hate to say that word but it is true.

This needs to stop!

Culturally and societally in doing this; we are saying that an argument has no merit. The person making it does. If you take away their validity as a person,you win. This isn’t debate, this isn’t faith or confidence in the fact that you are right and they are wrong. No, this is lowering someone else to elevate yourself in the same way we see in millions of domestic abuse cases and that is scummy as hell. Shame on you all.