Dead Cats And Monkey Business
Sporting Gun|January 2021
Charles Smith-Jones ponders the rhetorical devices and distractive tactics employed by those with an agenda
Charles Smith-Jones
Dead Cats And Monkey Business

Imagine that you are in a pub or at a dinner party and the conversation has turned to politics. You find yourself holding a position that is becoming increasingly difficult to defend; the facts, it turns out, are against you, and you are losing the argument badly. Everyone else present is starting to disagree with you and it is becoming obvious that you will have to throw in the towel.

There is only one thing left to do – you chuck a dead cat on the table. Everyone else is so shocked by this turn of events that the argument is forgotten as you all agree how disgusting the sight is. You have successfully changed the subject and suddenly everyone is talking about this new topic instead of concentrating on you. You have retained your honour, and life can move on.

Strategy

This is the dead cat strategy, or ‘deadcatting’, so beloved of politicians. It implies introducing a topic so horrifying, dramatic or insulting that it distracts attention from something far more damaging. A similar tactic is the ‘Chewbacca defence’, intended to distract or mislead and named after a farcical courtroom scene in television’s South Park, in which a lawyer uses the Star Wars character to make an irrelevant point that so confuses the jury that he wins the case.

Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Sporting Gun.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Sporting Gun.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SPORTING GUNSe alt
Thermal spectrum
Sporting Gun

Thermal spectrum

Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared

time-read
6 mins  |
August 2023
Roe, rucks and new ground
Sporting Gun

Roe, rucks and new ground

Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Sporting Gun

Tales from a lifetime of foxing

Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Fox rot about Charlie
Sporting Gun

Fox rot about Charlie

Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
The sniff of success
Sporting Gun

The sniff of success

Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Adventures of Nick & Ted
Sporting Gun

Adventures of Nick & Ted

A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Sporting Gun

The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system

Vet's advice

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Gundogs Q&A
Sporting Gun

Gundogs Q&A

No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2023
Stop-start!
Sporting Gun

Stop-start!

Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2023
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Sporting Gun

Gundogs at the Game Fair

Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2023