What is the most effective way to counter a Gish Gallop in debate?

[msc545]

The most effective counter is not to answer every point.

That is exactly what the Gish Gallop is designed to make you do. A Gish Galloper throws out 10–50 claims, many of them weak, misleading, or irrelevant. Refuting each claim takes far longer than making it. This is often used by MAGA people when trying to defend indefensible issues and points.

A good response looks like this:

"You just made fifteen separate claims. We don't have time to examine fifteen claims. Let's pick your strongest one. If that falls apart, the rest become much less persuasive."
This immediately shifts the burden back to the speaker.

[goaded]

I half agree with you, but perhaps it's easier to demand they support their least supportable claim?

For example, I'm going with "Name one US president who didn't peacefully hand over power, other than Trump".

Then there's no need to move on to "Name a Democratic politician who called for assassination of political opponents", or "Name a Democratic politician who caused race riots".

[msc545]

That's a very clever and valid twist on the original idea. I think you'll get an answer to it, but instead you'll get a deflected issue or something of that sort instead.

[msc545]

Or you will get a lie like, "Oh no, Trump didn't ever refuse to hand over power."

[goaded]

They blocked me rather than answer.

[msc545]

That means you win.

[goaded]

Yup. I've won a lot. But that doesn't mean the handful of people I've blocked for making shit up did.

Do you think blocking someone is an admission of defeat? ↗

[msc545]

Good point.

[Snakeyes7]

Bombarding your debate opponent with points is already a dick move. Going to the strongest of them makes sense when presented with something like that. If you wanted the other points addressed then say so. They probably got lost in your bombardment.

[Ill_made_Knight]

That can work. I'm more likely to tell them something like, You're simply trying to evade the issue by throwing a bunch of rubbish. Stay on the original point.

[msc545]

That might work, but I think we have a few better counters than that, with all due respect to you, of course.

[Ill_made_Knight]

No offense taken whatsoever. Everyone will use the tools that work for them. Personally, I'm not going to allow them to stray from the original point. If I refuse to engage their desire to wander off and move the goalpost or muddy the discussion with things not related to the original question, they very often become very frustrated because after all, if they had a good argument or evidence on the original point they would use it. If they don't... they gish gallop, change the focus... it's all a smoke screen. I feel better not letting 'em off the hook.

[MrChinaski]

Just walk away, Renee.

[RavVid]

That seems a good strategy. I'll remember that.