Gish Gallop: When People Try to Win Debates by Using Overwhelming Nonsense - Effectiviology

• In live debates, a person using the Gish gallop will fire off arguments one after another to attempt to overwhelm the opponent.
• In online discussions, Gish gallopers will list a large number of sources that supposedly support their stance. They will search for relevant keywords, then list all the sources regardless if the sources support their stance. It works to some degree since many people won't bother with the list of references and just assume they're valid and relevant.

The Gish gallop technique was first known by names such as 'argument by verbosity', 'proof by verbosity', and 'shotgun argumentation.'

Professor Eugenie Scott used the term 'Gish gallop' to describe the debate technique of Duane Gish, a Young-Earth creationist, who was "allowed to run on for 45 minutes or an hour, spewing forth torrents of error that the evolutionist hasn't a prayer of refuting in the format of a debate."

Arguments in a Gish gallop often contain various logical fallacies, such as the strawman fallacy which attacks a fabricated argument, or appeals to nature, which claims something is good because it is perceived as natural.

The Gish gallop technique is used for two main reasons:

1. It is often easier to raise weak arguments than it is to refute them.
2. People generally prefer simple arguments and not complex refutations. The Gish gallop often contains these arguments which offer a compelling argument.

The Gish galloper will often use a prepared list of arguments that they can fire off rapidly. They then appear well prepared because a person is unlikely to refute every single point.

• Full rebuttal. Go over every point made by your opponent, and refute each of them individually.
• Sample-based rebuttal. Select a representative sample of your opponent's arguments, either randomly or based on some criteria, then refute only those arguments.
• Thematic rebuttal. It consists of identifying the main theme of your opponent's arguments and arguing against that.
• Group-point rebuttal. Dividing the opposing arguments into distinct groups, then addressing each group separately.
• Best-point rebuttal. Addressing only the strongest piece of evidence presented by your opponent.
• Worst-point rebuttal. Addressing only the weakest pieces of evidence.

Different techniques will work better in different circumstances based on who your opponent is and what your goals are.

Regardless of which technique you use, you can generally point out that your opponent is using the Gish gallop, especially if you need to explain why you cannot provide a full, point-by-point rebuttal.

Explain how your opponent is using this technique and why it is problematic.

When responding to specific arguments within a Gish gallop, you can use certain techniques to respond effectively to the flawed arguments.

• When someone states there is support for their stance, you can ask your opponent to list the specific evidence they claim support their view.
• When responding to generalised claims, show that they contradict the scientific consensus on the topic.

This technique's strength is that it frames the course of the debate and can create a false appearance of credibility and control.

• Because it gives an advantage to the Gish galloper, your best course of action is to avoid playing their game.
• Don't allow the opponent to establish this type of rhetoric. However, this is not possible in online discussions.
• If your opponent already used the Gish gallop, ask them to defend specific pieces of evidence.