Caution in applying such a principle seems appropriate. I say this because I’ve long since lost track of how often I’ve seen on the Internet, “I lost all respect for X when they said [perfectly correct thing].”
I agree. It strengthens your point to note that, although the quote is normally used seriously, the author intended it mischievously. In context, the “thirteenth stroke” is a defendant, who has successfully rebutted all the charges against him, making the additional claim that “this [is] a free country and a man can do what he likes if he does nobody any harm.”
This “crazy” claim convinces the judge to convict him anyway.
For most people, is it necessarily wrong to lose all respect for someone in response to a true statement? Most people are respecting things other than truth, and the point “anyone respectable would have known not to say that” can remain perfectly valid.
Caution in applying such a principle seems appropriate. I say this because I’ve long since lost track of how often I’ve seen on the Internet, “I lost all respect for X when they said [perfectly correct thing].”
I don’t lose all respect for X based on one thing they say, but I do increase my respect in them if the controversial or difficult things they say are correct and I conserve expected evidence.
Caution in applying such a principle seems appropriate. I say this because I’ve long since lost track of how often I’ve seen on the Internet, “I lost all respect for X when they said [perfectly correct thing].”
I agree. It strengthens your point to note that, although the quote is normally used seriously, the author intended it mischievously. In context, the “thirteenth stroke” is a defendant, who has successfully rebutted all the charges against him, making the additional claim that “this [is] a free country and a man can do what he likes if he does nobody any harm.”
This “crazy” claim convinces the judge to convict him anyway.
For most people, is it necessarily wrong to lose all respect for someone in response to a true statement? Most people are respecting things other than truth, and the point “anyone respectable would have known not to say that” can remain perfectly valid.
I don’t lose all respect for X based on one thing they say, but I do increase my respect in them if the controversial or difficult things they say are correct and I conserve expected evidence.