A growing number

[mmcirvin]

In this fine essay on Project Steve and the Appeal to Authority, Matt Inlay finds several examples of another of my least favorite rhetorical tricks:

Since they obviously can’t claim that 100 scientists is a significant number (actually some do), they use the phrases like, “a growing number of scientists question evolution” or something like that. Don’t believe me? Try googling the term “evolution” with the phrase “growing number of scientists”, and you’ll see what I mean.[...]

Ah, yes, a growing number. I don't know whether the use of this construction is growing or not, but I'm pretty sure that if I claimed it was, few people would bother to call me on it. Its very vagueness places it in the useful realm of statements for which gut feeling constitutes sufficient research.

Comments

[dumplechan.livejournal.com]

Yay, a project with the same name as me!

[schwa242.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I'd say a growing number of people are resorting to this rhetorical trickery.

-- Schwa ---

I agree.

[skapusniak.livejournal.com]

We must send a message that a growing number will not be tolerated.