I mean, can someone really call themselves a “devil’s advocate” if they’re really just arguing for their own position that just happens to be unpopular with the people around them? My understanding was that the term was supposed to mean something more like arguing for a position that one disagrees with, to ensure that the arguments against that position hold up and strengthen them.
They won’t actually say it’s their position on issues unless they get enough support. It’s pretending to play devil’s advocate.
schrodingers advocate
It’s more like a pseudo-devil’s advocate. Someone who claims to just be arguing against a topic for the sake of making a point even though they don’t agree, but actually doesn’t agree with what you said.
If someone calls themselves a ‘gadfly,’ you know you are talking to the worst kind of devil’s advocate- the kind who thinks he’s funny.
There are people that call themselves that? Why would anyone want to compare themselves to a gadfly of all things?
Because they’re assholes.
Haven’t heard that one yet. I’ll have to keep an ear out.
Fox News “comedian” Greg Gutfeld has described himself as a gadfly if that tells you anything.
Damn that’s fairly succinct
#notallstrawmen
Brilliant.
12 other ways:
joke
