There was an article not to long ago on HN which talked about why the phrase "It turns out" is an intellectually dishonest argumentation tactic disguised as a passing remark, to make an argument completely devoid of any evidence sound as if it's backed by lots of (otherwise unstated) evidence.
I agree.
However, I find it works beautifully as a counter-attack to similarly dishonest argumentation tactics relying on lack of evidence for their punch. "That won't work" is one of them. All you have to do is say "Actually, I too had considered considered it would not work ... but it turns out it will!", and, voilá, end of diversion. Your opponent will either accept your dishonest "yes it turns out it works" tactic as fact, in which case you can ignore the naysayer and continue arguing your previous point, or your opponent will ask "why does it 'turn out' that it will work?", in which case you can turn their fruitless exclamation into a counter-question of "oh, many reasons, 'it turns out' ... what was the specific reason you felt it would not work?", lead yourself down a 'fruitful' discussion instead.
PS. The objective being, discussion. Not debate. If you're after debate instead, then maybe not the best way to counter this.
I agree.
However, I find it works beautifully as a counter-attack to similarly dishonest argumentation tactics relying on lack of evidence for their punch. "That won't work" is one of them. All you have to do is say "Actually, I too had considered considered it would not work ... but it turns out it will!", and, voilá, end of diversion. Your opponent will either accept your dishonest "yes it turns out it works" tactic as fact, in which case you can ignore the naysayer and continue arguing your previous point, or your opponent will ask "why does it 'turn out' that it will work?", in which case you can turn their fruitless exclamation into a counter-question of "oh, many reasons, 'it turns out' ... what was the specific reason you felt it would not work?", lead yourself down a 'fruitful' discussion instead.
PS. The objective being, discussion. Not debate. If you're after debate instead, then maybe not the best way to counter this.