Gah, I keep finding myself in the unpleasant position that I agree in general, but every example I see is problematic. “shoplifting is no big deal even though it’s against the law” is a weird thing to say unless in response to “shoplifting IS a big deal because it’s against the law”. And the latter _should_ be attacked by showing all the ways that the law is insufficient evidence of big-deal-ness. The motte-and-baily is on the other foot in this case (bailey being “shoplifting is illegal”, motte being “shoplifting is a big deal”).
Gah, I keep finding myself in the unpleasant position that I agree in general, but every example I see is problematic. “shoplifting is no big deal even though it’s against the law” is a weird thing to say unless in response to “shoplifting IS a big deal because it’s against the law”. And the latter _should_ be attacked by showing all the ways that the law is insufficient evidence of big-deal-ness. The motte-and-baily is on the other foot in this case (bailey being “shoplifting is illegal”, motte being “shoplifting is a big deal”).