The two quibbles above seem nearly identical to me. It's interesting what role the assumptions of the audience play in their reaction to a statement.

I assumed that a snopes link would credit or discredit the claim (that this was a test from 1895.)

Pointing out a classic fallacy is hardly a quibble, and certainly not a question of semantics.

On the other hand, yes, it's quite true that all arguments appear in a specific context. I think we must live in quite different political contexts, though, because I don't see anything in the article that implies a decline in educational standards.

I've always preferred "Do you still beat your wife?"

Rolls off the tongue better.