Why is it nearly impossible for some people to handle analogies or hypotheticals?

[SomothErgai]

I find that so often, people make an argument, and then to explain the flaws I see in the argument I will give an analogy or a hypothetical. And instead of engaging with the analogy, maybe offering an actual counter point or explaining why they might think the analogy is flawed, they resort to personal attacks and name calling.

Don't get me wrong. I'm 100% in favor of personal attacks and name calling. It keeps the interaction lively and spicy. But just not at the cost of a complete lack of a coherent rational counter argument.

It's the difference between saying:

"these are the things wrong with your argument asshole"

and

"you're wrong *because* you're an asshole"

[Anonymous]

Hypothetical questions are a complete waste of time on this site.
A guy on this site once asked “ If you could fly, would you rather have it with wings or telekinesis like Superman?”
Every idiot that replied told him that humans can’t fly. If you ask the same thing to a five-year-old kid, they could easily answer the question.

[virtualwasp]

The same way that if brains were made of dynamite, they wouldn't have enough to blow their nose.

[Syntosi]

Welcome to the "post truth" world where the facts dont matter and the brain damage is mandatory. People simply are not equipped to handle a real argument and substitute it with a shouting match instead.

[DrPepper12]

Many people's analogies or hypotheticals fail to ACCURATELY address the original question. This helps:

[SomothErgai]

I was actually considering posting my paper on logic and fallacies in any take. This is a decent list but I go over a lot more

[Billlewis]

For the same reason that when you complain that it’s 95 degrees outside, they’ll respond with, ‘Oh, so you want ice and snow instead?’ Mental laziness.

[MikeRJ]

They either have a lack of the ability to think abstractly or don't care to because they want to think emotionally and argue rather than think rationally.

[Anonymous]

It’s usually the same “type” of person and logic and common sense is not their strong point.

[SomothErgai]

It's definitely always the same type of person. The kind of person who has never had to think for themselves and always default to the opinions they've been told to have.

So instead of trying to actually argue the point they resort to something like, "well you're just being an asshole". And then that's it. There's no substance whatsoever.

I don't care if someone wants to hurl insults and what it. In fact It makes it a lot more fun for me if they do. But for the love of God. Accompany the insult with an actual refutation of the point. And a coherent one at that.

That's the other thing I get most often. A rebuttal that isn't actually a rebuttal. It'll be some rambling incoherent nonsense that has nothing at all to do with my argument.

Which both shows an inability to comprehend what I actually said and an inability to form a coherent rational thought

[Anonymous]

Some people prefer facts to theory.