Moving the Sensepost

The advanced tactic of shifting the criteria for what counts as "sensible" after your opponent has already demonstrated that their argument meets the previous criteria. First, they call your argument nonsense. You explain it clearly. They move the sensepost: "Well, it's still nonsense because you didn't address X." You address X. They move again: "It's nonsense because your tone is wrong." You adjust your tone. They move again: "It's nonsense because I don't like you." The sensepost keeps moving because the real claim is not that your argument is nonsensical but that they don't want to accept it, and no amount of sense-making will overcome unwillingness. Moving the sensepost is how people maintain the illusion of rationality while being completely irrational.

Moving the Sensepost Example: "She explained her position clearly. He said it was nonsense. She explained again, with examples. He moved the sensepost: 'Nonsense because you're using examples, not data.' She provided data. He moved again: 'Nonsense because your data is from biased sources.' She provided multiple sources. He moved again: 'Nonsense because I've decided nothing will convince me.' The sensepost had moved beyond sense entirely, into the pure territory of refusal."

Moving the Sensepost by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026