Is He a Witch?

Circular arguments have always dumbfounded me with their innate stupidity.
When a circular argument contains a paradox it is just ridiculous.

Is he an alcoholic?
Denial is a symptom of alcoholism.
So if he denies the problem he must be an alcoholic.

This argument was used when I was in high school health class, and it can still be found in self help literature today.
Trial by ordeal take this one step further.

Is she a witch?
A witch will float, and an innocent person will sink.
So if she floats we stone her to death, if she sink, she drowns.
Either way she dies.

So I find myself cringing when my child SCREAMS "I'm not tired."
I'm not cringing because he is screaming, but because of the argument I'm about to use.

Is he tired?
I say "you must be tired, or you wouldn't be screaming it like that."

I know I'm right. But intuitively my son senses the circular argument.
He should just be glad that I don't apply the option of trial by ordeal.

Comments

[Marcia]

You're right, kids do sense our circular arguments. And yet, you're right about him needing sleep--you know what's best for him.

What's just as bad is that I find myself using the arguments that I will renounce later on, like when I want the girls to do something and I say that all of their friends do it.

[Robin P]

Try saying, "Well, if you're really not tired then you should be able to go to sleep right now without yelling!" And around and around it goes!

Usually when Lillianna gets like that I tell her that I AM tired but I will lie down with her and rub her back for a few minutes. Since she is actually exhausted, she falls asleep within seconds.

[Kris]

Great post! We use that line on our boys too.