What you're referring to, Sir, is Step 1: the RV. It doesn't just happen at the start of the game: it's any time when everyone seems neutral to you. At that point, you throw out anything, ANYTHING, even if it's lies, BS, and random.com to get them to talk. The goal, though is NEVER to lynch but to get a read on them. If you look at what they do and they seem to be acting townish then you have nothing: leave them alone and go after someone else.
Step 2 is when you pressure. This is when you have something to use. The reason could be flaky and weak, but it's not BS. You saw one sentence that sounded slightly passive. You saw a person make one too many vote switches for your liking. They are defending themselves (even though they were attacked and, thus, wanted to answer the charges, which is what you're supposed to do
). Even if you can see yourself doing it as town, if it feels off to you anyway, or you know it as a scumtell, hit em and hit em HARD.
Whatever you're doing you should know WHAT you are doing at the time. Make sure you keep up with your reasoning for every attack you do. That contradiction would be fine if you did it deliberately.
[lolwat?! 2 reasons off the top of my head for doing a contradiction:
1. You found a scumtell and hit on it, they answered it well enough to keep you content, then they did a different scumtell that looks bad. You then go after that. A scum that starts off defensive may, when prodded, turn aggressive but towards a safe target. You attack them for not attacking, then later attack them for attacking poorly.
2. Trap setting. Scum have a bad habit of trying to lynch too fast. They see one real scumtell then go b*lls-to-the-wall to get the person lynched.. not attacking, LYNCHING. Others get worried when around a strong attacker and will avoid going after them completely.
Thus the trap, you let the contradiction stand, then watch the reactions. If someone attacks you and pushes you hard for it, applying pressure, that's a town tell. If they are ignoring the contradiction (not that they didn't see it, you can tell they are reading.. but they are letting it by) or going "OMG THAT"S SCUMLYNCHEMNOWwww!" well.. you now have someone to go after.
]
So is there really anything wrong with what you're doing Sir? Yes, but not what you think. The contradiction wasn't wrong (it WAS a scumtell but remember, townies DO cast scumtells at times): the reaction to being found contradicting is what's wrong. You know why you are throwing contradictions. You know it's for scumhunting purposes, and emotional-based attacks are effective tools.
You should also know that you'll be suspicious for using them. If you do something that isn't typical or is a flat out scumtell then know that you not only WILL be attacked but SHOULD be attacked. If I attack with BS, I expect someone to call me out on it, even if I don't plan on it being a trap. I then plan on explaining to them why I do what I do while trying to read their attack to see if they are town or scum after me.
Yes, that does mean that you may be lynched for it anyway. As town you should be ready for that possibility and be willing to take it if needed. To partially use Sir's quote "Who gives a damn" as long as I find scum?
So to sum up, know what you are doing when you are attacking.
Know when you are emiting scumtells and, instead of hiding them, be ready to explain them and face attacks from others.
Know that even your lynch means nothing if it means you find scum.