Eli5: What is Gish galloping and how do you discern it from an actual debate?

Question

Eli5: What is Gish galloping and how do you discern it from an actual debate?

In: 4

Answer 1

Gish galloping is a technique that takes advantage of the fact that it’s harder to debunk something than to claim it.

In a face-to-face debate with real-time limitations, if you just make a whole ton of claims in a row, you force your opponent to waste their time trying to address every one of your points rather than making their own. That way, you both monopolise the time for amplifying your side and, if they miss or make limited responses to any of your points, you can then point to that and claim that you “won” the debate. That’s the essence of a Gish gallop.

In an actual debate, both participants will get adequate time to both address their opponent’s points and make and support their own.