Yes. There are many kinds of bad argument, but the worst are the kind that signal you're no longer playing a game that is about making good arguments.https://twitter.com/DavidDeutschOxf/status/1188750655156080647 …
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It's possible for weak/incoherent arguments, or claims with no substantiation or underlying theory at all, to serve as a check on the strength of your "team" as well as your position within it — where the weaker an argument you can rally support for, the stronger your position is
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On the flipside, the stronger or better substantiated the argument from the *other* team that you can cause to be widely panned or ridiculed — or better yet, firmly punished — the stronger your "team" and your position within it. The danger should be obvious
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Within this structure, good arguments actually have less utility than bad ones, mostly serving as the retreat position for the motte-and-bailey whenever you find yourself contending with people who have some clout and don't yet realize what you're doinghttps://slatestarcodex.com/2014/11/03/all-in-all-another-brick-in-the-motte/ …
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