As the other poster said, they did not make an argument. The impulse to interpret an earnest question as an argument is incorrect.
If I say "here is option X" and make no suggestion that it is my position or advocate it as fact, why would you then try to force it to become my position? Analysis of possible positions is allowed and encouraged.
They did make an argument by the way they framed their question. Let's say the only evidence of long covid can also be explained by people lying. The way their question is framed makes it sound like we should assume lying is the most likely explanation in such a case.
Conjecture not well supported by evidence is not mutually exclusive with making an argument. In fact, that’s what people are saying: OP was making a bad argument [because it’s conjecture].
Again, argument requires them to suggest it's fact, which they did not. Your interpretation of the framing is subjective. They said "To get the convo started: The skeptical take" which clearly offers distance between their view and the statement. You are uncharitably ignoring this.
> which clearly offers distance between their view and the statement.
It’s also not a requirement that you exclusively argue your own personal view point. And of course appearing impartial to an argument via language like “to play devil’s advocate, etc.” is a common device used to introduce an argument you may believe, or want other to believe, without being inflammatory.
