Inaccurate pro-gun "quotes"

[lilro]

So what do you do when you recall a good quote, but can't remember who said it? Do you credit yourself by not posting someone else's name?

[kb58]

Yes, misattributed quotes are a big annoyance to me, because it hurts the credibility of those who are using them. It makes them look either ignorant or dishonest. Either case, it doesn't help our cause.

It's not like there aren't a bunch of great pro-2A quotes out there attributed to great history figures. We don't need to make some more up, or to misattribute them to Jefferson or Washington. That's just stupid, lazy and/or sleazy.

Thank you.

[kb58]

So what do you do when you recall a good quote, but can't remember who said it? Do you credit yourself by not posting someone else's name?

"Anon"

[lilro]

You're missing my point.

I'm saying that when a well-known name is attached to a phrase, depending what that phase is it is very important indeed to get the authorship correct. Saying that "it doesn't matter who said it if it's true" is completely wrong in context.

If Obama woke up tomorrow with a brain and said "gun control does not work", is that statement not true? Would that make you vote for him?

"Anon"

There are many forums where there is a user who uses the screen name "anon". And there is an entire organization that goes by "Anonymous", so that would be a discredit as well.

But we clearly have differing opinions. No use going back and forth.

[jshoebot]

"Misattribution of quotes on the Internet lead to perpetuation of ignorance."

-Plato, 386 B.C.

This is the one I always heard: "Internet quotes are often inaccurate." - Abraham Lincoln

[23 Blast]

This is the one I always heard: "Internet quotes are often inaccurate." - Abraham Lincoln

Yeah - except that it wasn't Abe Lincoln who said that. Pretty sure it was Theodore Roosevelt.

[lugar]

"Can you hear me now?" Helen Keller
" I'll be back." Gerry Brown
" Go ahead, make my day." Monica Lewinski

[23 Blast]

"Can you hear me now?" Helen Keller
" I'll be back." Gerry Brown
" Go ahead, make my day." Monica Lewinski

Funny. I thought Monica Lewinsky's most famous quote was "Mmmfhmphmmmyumyummmphhh.."

[kb58]

But we clearly have differing opinions. No use going back and forth.

Agreed, but that doesn't mean that you get the last shot in...

If Obama woke up tomorrow with a brain and said "gun control does not work", is that statement not true? Would that make you vote for him?

You're still missing my point; if someone purposely and falsely attributes the phrase to Obama - that's really important (especially to gun-owners.) The phrase may be true, but the fact that Obama never said it means he shouldn't be connected to it in any way, and the same applies to Franklin. He had nothing to do with the quote, so shouldn't be associated with its use.

Alright, I'm done.

[SDPatriot]

"You cannot invade mainland United States, there will be a rifle behind each grass blade" - Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/misquoting-yamamoto/

[Apec]

While not a quote, I'm not too fond of the folks citing John Lott's work to bolster the "more guns less crime claim."

First off, in econometrics, correlation does not equal definitive causation. On a second note, other scholars (Ayres and Levitt come to mind) found issues with his methodology, among other things - including allegations of unprofessional behavior on Lott's behalf.

I think the assertion that guns, gun control, and crime are unrelated will suffice, as past studies have shown.

[ewarmour]

"You cannot invade mainland United States, there will be a rifle behind each grass blade" - Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/misquoting-yamamoto/

"Factcheck.org are ****ing liars" - Adolph Hitler

[CBruce]

Doesn't matter who said it if it's right.

I misattributed quote touches on a number of fallacies. Appeals to authority, false attribution, appeals to tradition, etc.

[WootSauce]

"Misattribution of quotes on the Internet lead to perpetuation of ignorance."

-Plato, 386 B.C.

This is the one I always heard: "Internet quotes are often inaccurate." - Abraham Lincoln

"Can you hear me now?" Helen Keller
" I'll be back." Gerry Brown
" Go ahead, make my day." Monica Lewinski

Funny. I thought Monica Lewinsky's most famous quote was "Mmmfhmphmmmyumyummmphhh.."

"Factcheck.org are ****ing liars" - Adolph Hitler

[darkhelmet]

baseless appeal to authority

If the statement was false, I'd agree. However, if YOU said "A Glock is a handgun.", and someone attributed that statement to Gaston Glock, or someone attributed that statement to DiFi, does that make the statement any more or less true? Based on the "credibility" of the "author" of the statement?

it makes a big difference. the point of the alleged quote is demonstrate how famous defenders of truth, justice and the American way support a particular viewpoint.

it's intellectually dishonest to claim some expert or wise man, alive or dead, supports your viewpoint when the evidence isn't there.

OP i share your dismay at the profusion of apochryphal quotes on gunboards. i see one every day.

further, it's my completely unscientific opinion that apochryphal quotes are (much) more common on pro-gun posts than neutral- or anti-gun posts. which makes pro-gunners look like poor students of history, which is not the image we want.