This can be a problem, but in the thread I'm thinking of where this happened, it was in response to someone posting "If you think that you obviously don't know much about aerials...", so the response was somewhat justified.
More generally, on an internet forum where anyone can claim anything, there's only so far you can go with reasoned argument if someone is hell bent on insisting "I can so do it like this". The "expert" says "it doesn't work (looks crap/is dangerous etc)" and gets the response "it does work if you do it properly".
At which point you are very much down to deciding which person's credentials are more credible.
I've certainly used this argument, but generally in response to the credentials deadlock above. Because if, for example, a multiple world champion says "X is dangerous and we don't do it", I would hope people would see that it is a bit ridiculous to say "Well, it's not dangerous if you do it properly". (In practice, however, I was accused of arguing from authority, so ...)Similarly, when seeking to strengthen the value of their own opinions some forumites will announce that 'famous name X also believes this/teaches this/says this so I must be right'.
Bookmarks