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A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently, it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey", originally identified by philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed." On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.
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Truman Hanks as Tom Hanks
Robert Pattinson as Leo DiCaprio
James CromwellStanley Tucci as Steven Spielberg
You've got a stew going on
The fact that Abagnale managed to convince the world he was a genius con artist and even get a movie made out of it demonstrates he is, in fact, a genius con artist
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Truman Hanks as Tom Hanks
Robert Pattinson as Leo DiCaprio
James CromwellStanley Tucci as Steven SpielbergYou've got a stew going on
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