The false dichotomy of false dichotomies
Beware BS artists and their false dichotomy of false dichotomies.
The artist sets up a dichotomy, for example: "Some people say AI is very bad and will take all the jobs. Others say AI is excellent and will save us all".
That dichotomy is certainly false: AI needn't be either very bad or excellent. So the BS artist proceeds to call it out! "But that's a false dichotomy: I, on the other hand, believe that things are more complicated than that, and we should have a nuanced view"
The BS artist just deployed their own dichotomy: claiming others hold some extreme "either/or" view, in contrast to their own sophisticated nuanced understanding.
However that dichotomy is false. The truth is, most people are closer to the center, are not either/or thinkers, and understand that there are pros and cons to issues.
One can always sound clever, by claiming others are unsophisticated and extreme. BS artists frequently claim others are trapped in a black-and-white view of the world, whereas they are nuanced. Having nothing original or interesting to say, they resort to caricatures of others.Β
Whenever you hear "things are more complicated than that" be careful! You may give credit to the artist, because you too (!) understand and agree with the nuance. But maybe... you're just being BS'ed.