So familiar ...

Time and time again you see someone exasperated by the crank who won't turn despite being shown again and again where their error is, and finally just call the guy an idiot. That's actually not an ad hominem. That might be totally true and highly relevant to the argument at hand. Sometimes people are just too stupid or too ignorant to realize when they've been soundly thrashed, and true cranks will stubbornly go on, and on and on...

From the same blog, different article

the tendency of cranks not to care if other cranks (and denialists in general for that matter) have variations on their own crazy ideas, just as long as the other cranks are opposing the same perceived incorrect truth. Cranks and denialists aren't honest brokers in a debate, they stand outside of it and just shovel horse manure into it to try to sow confusion and doubt about real science. They don't care if some other crank or denialist comes along and challenges the prevailing theory by tossing cow manure, as long as what they're shoveling stinks.

This is funny and true. I often see this in discussions with those "denialists" that "deny" the facts of climate science research and suggest there is an anthropogenic cause. Also, just an aside, I find it humorous that one can write an article about discourse and logical fallacies while using pejoratives like "denialists". Quite bizarre.

If you accuse someone of being a Fool and you are wrong, you have insulted them.
If you call someone a fool and you're right, they're not going to know what you mean.
One of the reasons it essential we are allowed our own opinions, because, sometimes you had to be there, and you can argue with someone all you like, they will sometimes be so determined to hold on to an opinion , it can be better to let them find out they are wrong on their own,than give them too much credibility .
However, the media knows, if there is one thing people like more than arguing, it's watching other people argue.

Cranks and denialists aren't honest brokers in a debate, they stand outside of it and just shovel horse manure into it to try to sow confusion and doubt

I love this quote. What can you do with people who have chosen to trade intellectual honesty for political agendas or other "overvalued ideas"?

Cranks and denialists aren't honest brokers in a debate, they stand
outside of it and just shovel horse manure into it to try to sow
confusion and doubt

Yes, I know. I hate it when that happens.

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/DE4A62FB-72CB-4B69-8273-D0031207FCEA/

Willhelm - you are a classic denialist yourself if you think there is no science behind AGW. I guarantee you this - there is no research published in peer-reviewed journals that falsifies AGW. I quote Naomi Oreske's research on the topic.

What can you do with people who have chosen to trade intellectual honesty for political agendas or other "overvalued ideas"?

Intellectual honesty is not afraid of anyone's opinion. Intellectual dishonesty attempts to shut out other's opinions. Intellectual cowardice is the prime trait of the alarmist. This clip is simply a talking point tutorial on how to NOT HAVE TO answer questions and engage on the issue scientifically.