The easiest way to ‘win’ an argument is to not engage in it, by saying you don’t need to/it’s beneath you. One of the easiest ways to do this is to characterise your potential debaters as beneath contempt, unworthy of engaging with.
Anyone on the “left” can simply reach for the word “fascist” or “sexist” or “racist” or whatever, regardless of whether it’s accurate (tbf, it very often is).
For those not wanting to engage with the reality of climate change – and the awkward fact that it is going to get worse and worse – then the easiest smear, easier than words like ‘Luddite’, is “net zero nutjob.”
There’s a pleasing alliteration (someone should track down when it was first used, and by who). [Update: It seems to be Richard Littlejohn himself, in his April 1, 2025 column]. It is a debate-terminating cliche.
