nonce

This word, in its offensive slang forms, is probably derived from "nonsense".

Convicted child sex offenders are often considered to be the lowest of the low (i.e. the most "nonsense" people in society), and this, rather than the NONCE acronym, may be the main reason why this word became associated with paedophiles.

Calling someone "nonce" normally means one of three things:

1) UK prison slang for a paedophile.

2) A general insult, usually as an extension of 1) or 3).

3) A nonsensical person, or person behaving in a nonsensical manner, generally equivalent to stupid or idiot.

1) "Gary Glitter's a nonce!"
"Protect your kids from those nonces."

2) "You've been behaving like a twat all night! Piss off you annoying nonce!"

3) "He wasn't talking any sense- he was being a complete nonce!"
"Well, he's certainly nonced that up."

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circular reasoning

Circular reasoning is providing evidence for the validity of an assertion, which assumes the validity of the assertion.

General forms include "A is true because A is true" or "A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true".

Often used as a mechanism to prevent an assertion from being challenged or questioned, or to "win" a debate by sending it round and round in circles.

Examples of circular reasoning:

"I'm right because I'm right."

"There isn't a problem with the rule, because if everyone obeyed it there wouldn't be a problem."

"Piracy is wrong because it's against the law, and it's against the law because it's wrong."

"X is stupid because he's an idiot."

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