I mean, can someone really call themselves a "devil's advocate" if they're really just arguing for their own position that just happens to be unpopular with the people around them? My understanding was that the term was supposed to mean something more like arguing for a position that one disagrees with, to ensure that the arguments against that position hold up and strengthen them.

[–] RaineV1@kbin.social 47 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They won't actually say it's their position on issues unless they get enough support. It's pretending to play devil's advocate.

[–] lseif@sopuli.xyz 6 points 11 months ago

schrodingers advocate

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 33 points 11 months ago

It's more like a pseudo-devil's advocate. Someone who claims to just be arguing against a topic for the sake of making a point even though they don't agree, but actually doesn't agree with what you said.

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

Isn't the term, "playing devil's advocate"? Take out the 'playing' and all you have is a devils advocate.