This means to focus on the tone or emotion behind an argument, rather than the argument itself. Perhaps someone puts forward their beliefs around their situation on a forum somewhere and the answer is to stop being so negative or to lighten up because you’re on such a downer. So here the mistake is to focus on the emotion rather than the argument.
I think this can also work the other way. For example, toxic positivity or positive thinking. You could just say, look, “I’m negative about the whole thing and really my emotions are independent. I can just stop thinking about this and choose to be happy.” Now it’s true, that emotions are free and you can always decide to be happy. You could be led into the gas chamber and decide to go in with a smile on your face (admittedly, easier said than done, but theoretically possible).
However, there can always be a reason to be content when you are living logically and realistically. Yes, you can just decide to be insanely happy no matter what, but if it isn’t based on anything, no real reason, then it could be said to be delusive. Much better to go through all your arguments, take out all the crazy, insane illogical parts. What is left is things that you can change and things that you cannot, and then decide that you will simply never allow another thought into your mind about what cannot be changed (this is stoic practice… in practice) and then choose “free happiness” based on reality, not insanity.
This fallacy is also a lesson in staying calm when discussing things. If you ever get emotional, angry (rather than passionate), then people can always dismiss an argument because you’re “just losing it now”.
CALM
TAKE IT EASY
HAPPINESS IS FREE
FREE JOY