Classic type of argument-gone-wrong (also IMO a way autistic ‘hyperliteralism’ or ‘over-concreteness’ can look in practice, though I expect that isn’t always what’s behind it): Ashton makes a meta-level point X based on Birch’s meta point Y about object-level subject matter Z. Ashton thinks the topic of conversation is Y and Z is only relevant as the jumping-off point that sparked it, while Birch wanted to discuss Z and sees X as only relevant insofar as it pertains to Z. Birch explains that X is incorrect with respect to Z; Ashton, frustrated, reiterates that Y is incorrect with respect to X. This can proceed for quite some time with each feeling as though the other has dragged a sensible discussion onto their irrelevant pet issue; Ashton sees Birch’s continual returns to Z as a gotcha distracting from the meta-level topic XY, whilst Birch in turn sees Ashton’s focus on the meta-level point as sophistry to avoid addressing the object-level topic YZ. It feels almost exactly the same to be on either side of this, so misunderstandings like this are difficult to detect or resolve while involved in one.
Meta/object level is one possible mixup but it doesn’t need to be that. Alternative example, is/ought: Cedar objects to thing Y. Dusk explains that it happens because Z. Cedar reiterates that it shouldn’t happen, Dusk clarifies that in fact it is the natural outcome of Z, and we’re off once more.
Classic type of argument-gone-wrong (also IMO a way autistic ‘hyperliteralism’ or ‘over-concreteness’ can look in practice, though I expect that isn’t always what’s behind it): Ashton makes a meta-level point X based on Birch’s meta point Y about object-level subject matter Z. Ashton thinks the topic of conversation is Y and Z is only relevant as the jumping-off point that sparked it, while Birch wanted to discuss Z and sees X as only relevant insofar as it pertains to Z. Birch explains that X is incorrect with respect to Z; Ashton, frustrated, reiterates that Y is incorrect with respect to X. This can proceed for quite some time with each feeling as though the other has dragged a sensible discussion onto their irrelevant pet issue; Ashton sees Birch’s continual returns to Z as a gotcha distracting from the meta-level topic XY, whilst Birch in turn sees Ashton’s focus on the meta-level point as sophistry to avoid addressing the object-level topic YZ. It feels almost exactly the same to be on either side of this, so misunderstandings like this are difficult to detect or resolve while involved in one.
Meta/object level is one possible mixup but it doesn’t need to be that. Alternative example, is/ought: Cedar objects to thing Y. Dusk explains that it happens because Z. Cedar reiterates that it shouldn’t happen, Dusk clarifies that in fact it is the natural outcome of Z, and we’re off once more.