Important Debate Question

[Clueless Morgan]

No use. He just says that such a simplistic way of viewing life is too stupid for him to grasp and that, for him to take the time of the day to address it, it has to be more elevated and intelectual, that would "better reflect my university studies". He then tells me that it was a waste to send me to university for me to talk like a redneck countryman. Very insulting indeed lol. Both my parents proceed in saying that they will not tolerate me talking like an idiot in spite of my university studies.

It's basically just ad hominem after ad hominem. Non stop. I don't get what the problem is, can anyone spot it? Does it go beyond their refusal to accept my argument?

So... he's too stupid to grasp a stupid argument? And he wants to have a "more elevated" one? How can he grasp a more elevated argument if the simple argument is too stupid for him to even understand?

But let's be overly generous and say that that was unfortunate wording on your part and that he actually does understand the simple argument - he's still deflecting the conversation and blaming you for having "simple arguments" when he (and your mother) are the ones bringing this up! Ad hominem is right, yeesh!

Anyway, I would still keep on the "if it's so simple than refute it" line, and you can even start following it up with jabs like "the fact that you are refusing to refute the simple arguments leads me to conclude that you have no refutation to give" and "if you can't refute a simple argument, how do I know you're even capable of having a more elevated conversation?" Point out to him (and your mother) that refusal to engage in the simple discussions is as good as conceding that they have no argument to make and you win by default.

They are calling me onto it. Like, my mother found a YouTube video of a scientist talking about the Earth and God and invited everyone for a family discussion following the video. My mom also asked me to download movies with Jesus Christ. So they regularly bring up the subject, a lot more than me.

If I try to dodge the subject and not talk about it, they blame me for not having an opinion, saying only morons don't have opinions. If I keep quiet, they tell me how my Dexedrine medication I take for my ADD is destroying my personality and my life in general. So far my parents have laid over 10 diagnosis on me, including depression and schizophrenia. Telling them that my serotonin is high and I never had psychosis symptoms is regarded as defensive behavior "Your grandpa defended his bottle his entire life too, I guess you're walking in his footsteps."

You get the picture lol.

Ask them point blank why they are being so abusive toward you.

Seriously.

Call them on their shit.

"You confront me with an argument, then call my responses stupid and simple, and then say that not to have an argument at all is the mark of a moron. Do you think this is an acceptable way to talk to your child?"

Or turn that language around on them in an unexpected moment of conversation like when they're ordering a hamburger. "Only morons order hamburgers with mushrooms, dad." And when they tell you that that language is disrespectful ask them why they use that kind of language with you and why it's acceptable when they do it but not when you do it? "Treat others as you would want to be treated."

Make them aware that their behavior is abusive. If they are stunned into silence it'll tell you that they either didn't realize their behavior was abusive or never expected you to call them on it. If they think it is acceptable it'll tell you about their attitude toward raising children.

I get the idea from your statements regarding having a university education that you're not a minor. How do you think they would react if you told them you wanted to stop seeing them until they decided that they could interact with you without being abusive or bringing up contentious topics?

Of course, you could be dependent on them in some other way.