Bending Logic

The deliberate, often sneaky, distortion of logical rules and structures to make an invalid argument appear valid. This involves misapplying logical operators, creating false dichotomies, using equivocation (changing the meaning of a word mid-argument), or crafting syllogisms with hidden, untrue premises. It's not being bad at logic; it's being a con artist with logic as your prop.

Example: "He defended his conspiracy theory by bending logic: 'Either you believe the official report, or you seek the truth. You're criticizing my search for truth. Therefore, you must believe the official report.' He'd bent a complex situation into a forced binary choice, making skepticism look like blind faith."

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026

Bending Rationality

The practice of adopting the language and posture of cool reason, but only to justify a conclusion reached through bias, desire, or ideology. It's the construction of a rational-sounding façade for an irrational core. The bender of rationality will use cost-benefit analyses with rigged costs, or Bayesian updates that only accept evidence from one side, creating a simulacrum of reasoned judgment that's emotionally watertight but intellectually hollow.

Example: "She bent rationality to buy the sports car: 'It's a rational investment in my happiness per mile, the depreciation is offset by social capital gains, and the increased risk of tickets is mitigated by my sharper driving focus.' It was a spreadsheet of self-delusion masking a simple 'I want the shiny thing.'" Bending Rationality

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026

Bending Argument

Crafting an argument that, while perhaps containing true premises, uses rhetorical sleight-of-hand, emotional manipulation, or procedural tricks to guide the listener to an unwarranted conclusion. It's an argument built like a funhouse mirror—the components are real, but the overall reflection is a distorted version of reality. This includes shifting burden of proof, using loaded questions, or appealing to irrelevant authority.

Example: "The lawyer bent the argument for the jury: 'My client is a family man, a volunteer, a patriot. The prosecution wants you to believe this pillar of the community suddenly became a criminal. Can you live with that doubt?' He bent the argument away from evidence and toward a narrative about the prosecution's character." Bending Argument

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026

Bending Debate

Manipulating the format, rules, or flow of a debate to guarantee a tactical advantage or predetermined outcome. This includes filibustering, demanding impossible standards of proof from one side only, controlling the microphone time, or constantly redefining the topic. It's not debating to find truth; it's debating to win a performance, where the stage itself is sloped in your favor.

Example: "The moderator was accused of bending the debate by only following up on the challenger's points with aggressive fact-checks, while letting the incumbent's vague platitudes slide. The debate wasn't a fair exchange; it was a controlled demolition of one candidate's platform." Bending Debate

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026