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MasterListofLogicalFallacies

Fallaciesarefakeordeceptivearguments,argumentsthatprovenothing.Fallaciesoftenseemsuperficiallysound,andtheyfartoooftenretain
immensepersuasivepowerevenafterbeingclearlyexposedasfalse.Fallaciesarenotalwaysdeliberate,butagoodscholarspurposeisalwaysto
identifyandunmaskfallaciesinarguments.Notethatmanyofthesedefinitionsoverlap,butthegoalhereistoidentifycontemporaryandclassicfallaciesastheyareused
intoday'sdiscourse.Efforthasbeenmadetoavoidmerewordgames(e.g.,"TheFallacist'sFallacy),orthesocalled"fallacies"ofpurelyformalorsymboliclogic.Noclaimis
madeto"academicrigor"inthislisting.

1.TheAPrioriArgument:Also,RationalizationProofTexting.Acorruptargumentfromlogos,startingwitha
given,presetbelief,dogma,doctrine,scriptureverse,"fact"orconclusionandthensearchingforanyreasonableor
reasonablesoundingargumenttorationalize,defendorjustifyit.Certainideologuesandreligiousfundamentalists
areproudtousethisfallacyastheirprimarymethodof"reasoning"andsomeareevenhonestenoughtosayso.The
oppositeofthisfallacyistheTaboo.
2.ActionshaveConsequences:Thecontemporaryfallacyofapersoninpowerfalselydescribinganimposed
punishmentorpenaltyasa"consequence"ofanother'snegativeact.E.g.,"Theconsequencesofyourmisbehavior
couldincludesuspensionorexpulsion."Acorruptargumentfromethos,arrogatingtooneselfortoone'srulesor
lawsanethosofcosmicinevitability,i.e.,theethosofGod,Fate,DestinyorRealityItself.Freezingtodeathisa
"consequence"ofgoingoutnakedinsubzeroweatherbutgoingtoprisonisapunishmentforbankrobbery,nota
natural,inevitableorunavoidable"consequence,"ofrobbingabank.NottobeconfusedwiththeArgumentfrom
Consequences,whichisquitedifferent.AnoppositefallacyisthatofMoralLicensing.
3.TheAdHominemArgument(also,"Personalattack,""Poisoningthewell."):Thefallacyofattemptingtorefutean
argumentbyattackingtheoppositionspersonalcharacterorreputation,usingacorruptednegativeargumentfrom
ethos.E.g.,"He'ssoevilthatyoucan'tbelieveanythinghesays."Seealso"GuiltbyAssociation."Theoppositeof
thisisthe"StarPower"fallacy.Alsoappliestocaseswherevalidopposingevidenceandargumentsarebrushed
asidewithoutcommentorconsideration,assimplynotwortharguingabout,solelybecauseofthelackofpower,
statusorproperbackgroundofthepersonmakingtheargument,orbecausetheopponentisnotamemberofan"in
group,"i.e.,"You'dunderstandmeifyouwereBurmesebutsinceyou'renotthere'snowayIcanexplainittoyou,"
or"Nobodybutanursecanknowwhatanursehastogothrough."
4.TheAffectiveFallacy(alsoTheRomanticFallacy):AfallacyofPathos,thatone'semotions,urgesor"feelings"are
ineverycaseselfvalidating,autonomous,andaboveanyhumanintentoractofwill(one'sownorothers'),andare
thusbeyondchallengeorcritique.Inthisfallacyoneargues,"Myfeelingsarevalid,sothereforeyouhavenorightto
criticizewhatIsayordo,orhowIsayitordoit."Thislatterisalsoafallacyofstasis,confusingreasonedresponse
orrefutationwithpersonaldevaluation,disrespect,prejudice,bigotry,sexism,homophobiaorhostility.Agrossly
sexistformoftheAffectiveFallacyisthewellknownfallacythataphallus"HasNoConscience,"i.e.,since
(particularlymale)sexualityisselfvalidatingandbeyondvoluntarycontrolwhatonedoeswithitcannotbe
controlledandisnotopentocriticism,anassertioneagerlyembracedandextendedbeyondthemalegenderin
certainreificationsof"Desire"incontemporaryacademictheory.Seealso,PlayingonEmotion.Oppositetothis
fallacyistheChosenEmotionFallacy(thankstoscholarMarcLawsonforidentifyingthisfallacy),inwhichone
falselyclaimsreliablepriorvoluntarycontroloverone'sown"gutlevel"internalaffectivereactionsRelatedtothis

lastistheancientfallacyofAngelism,falselyclaimingthatoneiscapableofreasoningwithoutemotionor
pretendingtoplaceoneselfaboveallemotion.
5.AlphabetSoup:Acorruptimplicitfallacyfromethosinwhichapersoninappropriatelyoverusesacronyms,
abbreviations,formnumbersandarcaneinsider"shoptalk"primarilytoprovetoanaudiencethats/he"speakstheir
language"andis"oneofthem"andtoshutout,confuseorimpressoutsiders.E.g.,"It'snotatalluncommonforaK
12withASDtobebothGTandLD""IhadatwentyminuteDXQsoon15withaZedS1andacoupleofLU2's
eventhoughtheQRNancywas20dBoverS9"or"IhopeI'llkeeponseeingmyBAQonmyLESuntilthedayI
getmyDD214."
6.TheAppealtoClosure:Thecontemporaryfallacythatanargument,standpoint,actionorconclusionnomatterhow
questionablemustbeacceptedasfinalorelsethepointwillremainunsettled,whichisunthinkablebecausethose
affectedwillbedenied"closure."ThisfallacyfalselyreifiesaspecializedtermfromGestaltPsychology(closure)
whilerefusingtorecognizetheundeniabletruththatsomepointswillindeedremainunsettled,perhapsforever.E.g.,
"Societywouldbeprotected,crimewouldbedeterredandjusticeservedifwesentenceyoutolifewithoutparole,
butweneedtoexecuteyouinordertoprovidesomeclosure."Seealso,ArgumentfromIgnorance,andArgument
fromConsequences.TheoppositeofthisfallacyisParalysisofAnalysis.
7.TheAppealtoHeaven:(also,ArgumentumadCoelum,DeusVult,GottmitUns,ManifestDestiny,American
Exceptionalism,ortheSpecialCovenant).Anancient,extremelydangerousfallacy(adeludedargumentfromethos)
assertingthatGod(orHistory,orahigherpower)hasorderedoranointed,supportsorapprovesofone'sown
standpointoractionssonofurtherjustificationisrequiredandnoseriouschallengeispossible.(E.g.,"Godordered
metokillmychildren,"or"Weneedtotakeawayyourland,sinceGod[orManifestDestiny,orFate,orHeaven]
hasgivenittousasourown.")Aprivateindividualwhoseriouslyassertsthisfallacyrisksendingupinapsychiatric
ward,butgroupsornationswhodoitarefartoooftentakenseriously.Thisviciousfallacyhasbeenthecauseof
endlessbloodshedoverhistory.Seealso,MagicalThinking.AlsoappliestodeludednegativeAppealstoHeaven,
e.g.,"Yousaythatecologicalcollapseisarealdanger,butIknowGodwouldn'teverletthathappen!"Theopposite
oftheAppealtoHeavenistheJob'sComforterfallacy.
8.TheAppealtoPity:(also"ArgumentumadMiserecordiam").Thefallacyofurginganaudiencetorootforthe
underdogregardlessoftheissuesathand.Aclassicexampleis,Thosepoor,cutelittlesqueakymicearebeing
gobbledupbymean,nastycatsthataretentimestheirsize!AcontemporaryexamplemightbeAmerica's
uncriticalpopularsupportfortheArabSpringmovementof20102012inwhichThePeople("Theunderdogs")
wereseentobeheroicallyoverthrowingcrueldictatorships,amovementthathasresultedinretrospectinchaos,
anarchy,masssuffering,theriseofextremism,andthelargestrefugeecrisisinEuropesinceWorldWarII.Acorrupt
argumentfrompathos.Seealso,PlayingtoEmotions.TheoppositeoftheAppealtoPityistheAppealtoRigor,an
argument(oftenbasedonmachismooronmanipulatinganaudience'sfear)basedonmercilessness.E.g.,"I'mareal
man,notlikethosebleedinghearts,andI'llbetoughon[fillinthenameoftheenemyorbogeymanofthehour]."In
academiathislatterfallacyappliestopoliticallymotivatedorelitistcallsfor"AcademicRigor"andagainstOpen
Admissions,"DumbingDown"and"GradeInflation."
9.TheAppealtoTradition:(also,ConservativeBias"TheGoodOldDays").Thefallacythatastandpoint,situation
oractionisright,properandcorrectsimplybecauseithas"always"beenthatway,becausepeoplehave"always"
thoughtthatway,orbecauseitcontinuestoserveoneparticulargroupverywell.Acorruptedargumentfromethos
(thatofpastgenerations).(E.g.,"InAmerica,womenhavealwaysbeenpaidless,solet'snotmesswithlong
standingtradition.").SeealsoArgumentfromInertia,andDefaultBias.TheoppositeofthisisTheAppealto
Novelty(also,"ProInnovationbias,""RecencyBias,"and"TheBadOldDays"),e.g.,"It'sNEW,and[thereforeit
mustbe]improved!"or"Thisistheverylatestdiscoveryithastobebetter."

10.TheArgumentfromConsequences(also,OutcomeBias)Themajorfallacyofarguingthatsomethingcannotbe
truebecauseifitweretheconsequencesoroutcomewouldbeunacceptable.(E.g.,"Globalclimatechangecannotbe
causedbyhumanburningoffossilfuels,becauseifitwere,switchingtononpollutingenergysourceswould
bankruptAmericanindustry,"or"Doctor,that'swrong!Ican'thaveterminalcancer,becauseifIdidthat'dmeanthat
Iwon'tlivetoseemykidsgetmarried!")NottobeconfusedwithActionshaveConsequences.
11.TheArgumentfromIgnorance(also,ArgumentumadIgnorantiam):Thefallacythatsincewedontknow(orcan
neverknow,orcannotprove)whetheraclaimistrueorfalse,itmustbefalse(orthatitmustbetrue).E.g.,
Scientistsarenevergoingtobeabletopositivelyprovetheirtheorythathumansevolvedfromothercreatures,

becauseweweren'ttheretoseeit!So,thatprovestheGenesissixdaycreationaccountisliterallytrueaswritten!
ThisfallacyincludesAttackingtheEvidence,e.g."Someofyourkeyevidenceismissing,incomplete,oreven
faked!ThatprovesI'mright!"ThisusuallyincludesEitherOrReasoning:E.g.,Thevetcan'tfindanyreasonable
explanationforwhymydogdied.See!See!Thatprovesthatyoupoisonedhim!Theresnootherlogical
explanation!Acorruptedargumentfromlogos.AfallacycommonlyfoundinAmericanpolitical,judicialand
forensicreasoning.
Seealso"APrioriArgument"and"ArgumentumexSilentio."
12.TheArgumentfromInertia(alsoStaytheCourse).Thefallacythatitisnecessarytocontinueonamistaken
courseofactionevenafterdiscoveringitismistaken,becausechangingcoursewouldmeanadmittingthatone's
decision(orone'sleader,orone'sfaith)waswrong,andallone'seffort,expenseandsacrificewasfornothing,and
that'sunthinkable.AvarietyoftheArgumentfromConsequences,EforEffort,ortheAppealtoTradition.
13.TheArgumentfromMotives(alsoQuestioningMotives).Thefallacyofdeclaringastandpointorargumentinvalid
solelybecauseoftheevil,corruptorquestionablemotivesoftheonemakingtheclaim.E.g.,"BinLadenwantedus
outofAfghanistan,sowehavetokeepupthefight!"Evenevilpeoplewithcorruptmotivessometimessaythetruth
(andeventhosewhohavethehighestmotivesareoftenwrongormistaken).AvarietyoftheAdHominem
argument.Thecounterpartofthisisthefallacyoffalselyjustifyingorexcusingevilorviciousactionsbecauseofthe
perpetrator'spurityofmotivesorlackofmalice.(E.g.,"ShewasagoodChristianwomanandwasdoingthebestshe
couldhowcouldyouaccuseherofchildabuse?")
SeealsoMoralLicensing.
14.ArgumentumadBaculum("ArgumentfromtheClub."Also,"ArgumentfromStrength,""MuscularLeadership,"
"NonnegotiableDemands,"Bullying,Fascism,ResolutionbyForceofArms.).Thefallacyof"persuasion"or
"Provingoneisright"byforce,violence,orthreatsofviolence.E.g.,"GimmeeyourwalletorI'llknockyourhead
off!"or"Wehavetheperfectrighttotakeyourland,sincewehavethegunsandyoudon't."Alsoappliestoindirect
formsofthreat.E.g.,"Giveupyourfoolishpride,kneeldownandacceptourreligiontodayifyoudon'twanttoburn
inhellforeverandever!"

15.ArgumentumadMysteriam("ArgumentfromMystery.")Adarkenedchamber,incense,chantingordrumming,
bowingandkneeling,specialrobesorheadgear,holyritualsandmassedvoicesrecitingsacredmysteriesinan
unknowntonguehaveaquasihypnoticeffectandcanoftenpersuademorestronglythananylogicalargument.The
ProtestantReformationwasinlargepartarejectionofthisfallacy.Whenusedknowinglyanddeliberatelythis
fallacyisparticularlyviciousandaccountsforsomeofthefearsomepersuasivepowerofcults.Anexampleofan
ArgumentumadMysteriamisthe"LongAgoandFarAway"fallacy,thatfacts,evidence,practicesorarguments
fromancienttimes,distantlandsand/or"exotic"culturescarryaspecialgravitasorethossimplybecauseoftheir
antiquity,languageororigin,e.g.,chantingHolyScripturesintheiroriginallanguages,preferringtheGreek,Latinor
AssyrianChristianLiturgiesovertheirvernacularversions,orusingclassicormadeupLatinnamesforfallaciesto
provetheirvalidityassuch.Seealso,EsotericKnowledge.
16.ArgumentumexSilentio(ArgumentfromSilence).Thefallacythatifavailablesourcesremainsilentorcurrent
knowledgeandevidencecanprovenothingaboutagivensubjectorquestionthisfactinitselfprovessomething
aboutthetruthofthematter.E.g.,"SciencecantellusnothingaboutGod.ThatprovesGoddoesn'texist."Or
"ScienceadmitsitcantellusnothingaboutGod,soyoucan'tdenythatGodexists!"OftenmisusedintheAmerican
justicesystem,where,contrarytothe5thAmendment,remainingsilentor"takingtheFifth"isoftenfalsely
portrayedasproofofguilt.E.g.,"Mr.HixelhasnoalibifortheeveningofJanuary15th.Thisprovesthathewasin
factinroom331attheSmuggler'sInn,murderinghiswifewithahatchet!"Intoday'sAmerica,choosingtoremain
silentinthefaceofapoliceofficer'squestionscanmakeoneguiltyenoughtobearrestedorevenshot.Seealso,
ArgumentfromIgnorance.
17.AvailabilityBias(also,AttentionBias,AnchoringBias):Afallacyoflogosstemmingfromthenaturaltendencyto
giveundueattentionandimportancetoinformationthatisimmediatelyavailableathand,particularlythefirstorlast
informationreceived,andtominimizeorignorebroaderdataorwiderevidencethatclearlyexistsbutisnotaseasily
rememberedoraccessed.E.g.,"Weknowfromexperiencethatthisdoesn'twork,"when"experience"meansthe
mostrecentlocalexperience,ignoringmultipleinstancesinotherplacesandtimeswhereithasworkedanddoes
work.

18.TheBandwagonFallacy(also,ArgumentfromCommonSense,ArgumentumadPopulum):Thefallacyofarguing
thatbecause"everyone"supposedlythinksordoessomething,itmustberight.E.g.,"Everyoneknowsthat
undocumentedaliensoughttobekickedout!"SometimesalsoincludesLyingwithStatistics,e.g.Surveysshow
thatover75%ofAmericansbelieveSenatorSnithisnottellingthetruth.Foranyonewithhalfabrain,that
conclusivelyproveshesadirtyliar!
Sometimescombinedwiththe"ArgumentumadBaculum,"e.g.,"Likeitornot,it'stimetochoosesides:Areyou
goingtogetonboardthebandwagonwitheveryoneelseorgetcrushedunderthewheelsasitgoesby?"Forthe
oppositeofthisargumentseetheRomanticRebelfallacy.
19.TheBigLieTechnique(also"StayingonMessage"):Thecontemporaryfallacyofrepeatingalie,fallacy,slogan,
talkingpoint,nonsensestatementordeceptivehalftruthoverandoverindifferentforms(particularlyinthemedia)
untilitbecomespartofdailydiscourseandpeoplebelieveitwithoutfurtherprooforevidence.E.g.,"Whataboutthe
JewishQuestion?"Notethatwhenthisparticularphonydebatewasgoingontherewasno"JewishQuestion,"onlya
"NaziQuestion,"buthardlyanybodyinpowerrecognizedorwantedtotalkaboutthat.WriterMilesJBrewer
expertlydemolishesTheBigLieTechniqueinhis(1930)shortstory,"TheGostakandtheDoshes."However,more
contemporaryexamplesoftheBigLiefallacymightbethecompletelyfictitiousAugust4,1964"TonkinGulf
Incident"concoctedunderLyndonJohnsonasajustificationforescalatingtheVietnamWar,orthenonexistent
"WeaponsofMassDestruction"(convenientlyabbreviated"WMD's"inordertolendthisparticularBigLiea
legitimizing,militarysoundingethos)inIraq,usedin2003asafalsejustificationforinvadingthatcountry.Seealso,
AlphabetSoup,andPropaganda.
20.BlindLoyalty(alsoBlindObedience,UnthinkingObedience,the"TeamPlayer"appeal,theNurembergDefense).
Thedangerousfallacythatanargumentoractionisrightsimplyandsolelybecausearespectedleaderorsource(a
President,expert,onesparents,one'sown"side,"teamorcountry,onesbossorcommandingofficers)saysitis
right.Thisisoverrelianceonauthority,agravelycorruptedargumentfromethosthatputsloyaltyabovetruth,
aboveone'sownreasonandaboveconscience.Inthiscaseapersonattemptstojustifyincorrect,stupidorcriminal
behaviorbywhining"That'swhatIwastoldtodo,"orIwasjustfollowingorders."Seealso,"TheSoldiers'Honor
Fallacy."AnotuncommonbutextremeexampleofthisfallacyistheBigBrain/LittleBrainFallacy(also,the
Fuhrerprinzip)inwhichatyrannicalcultleadertellsfollowers"Don'tthinkwithyourlittlebrains(thebraininyour
head),butwithyourBIGbrain(theleader's)."Thislastissometimesexpressedinpositiveterms,i.e.,"Youdon't
havetoworryandstressoutaboutthemoralrightnessofwhatyouaredoingsinceI,theleader.amassumingall
responsibilityforyouractions.Iwilldefendyouandgladlyacceptalltheconsequencesuptoandincludingeternal
damnationifI'mwrong."Theoppositeofthislatteristhefallacyof"PlausibleDeniability."Seealso,"JustDoIt!"
21.BloodisThickerthanWater(alsoFavoritism,Compadrismo,"Formyfriends,anything.").Thereverseofthe"Ad
Hominem"fallacy,acorruptargumentfromethoswhereastatement,argumentoractionisautomaticallyregarded
astrue,correctandabovechallengebecauseoneisrelatedto,orknowsandlikes,orisonthesameteamasthe
individualinvolved.(E.g.,"Mybrotherinlawsayshesawyougoofingoffonthejob.You'reahardworkerbut
whoamIgoingtobelieve,youorhim?You'refired!")
22.Brainwashing(also,Propaganda,"Radicalization."):TheColdWarerafantasythatanenemycaninstantly
convinceanunsuspectingaudiencewiththeirvilebutsomehowunspeakablypersuasive"propaganda,"e.g.,"Don't
lookatthatwebsite!They'retryingtobrainwashyouwiththeirpropaganda!"Historically,thisfallacyrefersmore
properlytotheinhumanArgumentumadBaculumof"beatinganargumentinto"aprisonerviapain,fear,sensory
orsleepdeprivation,prolongedabuseandsophisticatedpsychologicalmanipulation(also,the"Stockholm
Syndrome.").Such"brainwashing"canalsobeaccomplishedbypleasure("LoveBombing,"),e.g.,"Didyoulike
that?Iknowyoudid.Well,there'slotsmorewherethatcamefromwhenyousignonwithus!"(Seealso,"Bribery.")
Anunspeakablysinisterformofpersuasionbybrainwashinginvolvesdeliberatelyaddictingapersontodrugsand
thenprovidingorwithholdingthesubstancedependingontheaddict'scompliance.Note:Onlythe"otherside"
brainwashes."We"neverbrainwash.
23.Bribery(also,MaterialPersuasion,MaterialIncentive,FinancialIncentive).Thefallacyof"persuasion"bybribery,
giftsorfavors,thereverseoftheArgumentumadBaculum.Asiswellknown,someonewhoispersuadedbybribery
rarely"stayspersuaded"unlessthebribeskeeponcominginandincreasingwithtime.Relatedtothisisthefallacy
ofAppeasement(also,"Thesqueakywheelgetsthegrease"),mostoftenpopularlyconnectedtotheshamefulpre
WorldWarIIappeasementofHitlerbutstillcommonlypracticedinretailbusinesstoday,e.g."Thecustomeris
alwaysright,evenwhenthey'rewrong.Justgive'emwhattheywantsothey'llshutupandgoawayit'scheaperthan
alawsuit."

24.CircularReasoning(also,TheViciousCircleCatch22,BeggingtheQuestion,CirculusinProbando):Afallacyof
logoswhereAisbecauseofB,andBisbecauseofA,e.g.,"Youcan'tgetajobbecauseyouhavenoexperience,and
youhavenoexperiencebecauseyoucan'tgetajob."Alsoreferstofalselyarguingthatsomethingistrueby
repeatingthesamestatementindifferentwords.E.g.,Thewitchcraftproblemisthemosturgentspiritualcrisisin
theworldtoday.Why?Becausewitchesthreatenourimmortalsouls.Acorruptargumentfromlogos.Seealsothe
"BigLietechnique."
25.TheComplexQuestion:Thecontemporaryfallacyofdemandingadirectanswertoaquestionthatcannotbe
answeredwithoutfirstanalyzingorchallengingthebasisofthequestionitself.E.g.,"Justanswerme'yes'or'no':
Didyouthinkyoucouldgetawaywithplagiarismandnotsuffertheconsequences?"Or,"Whydidyourobthat
bank?"Alsoappliestosituationswhereoneisforcedtoeitheracceptorrejectcomplexstandpointsorpropositions
containingbothacceptableandunacceptableparts.Acorruptionoftheargumentfromlogos.Acounterpartof
Either/OrReasoning.
26.ConfirmationBias:Afallacyoflogos,recognizingthefactthatonealwaystendstosee,selectandshareevidence
thatconfirmsone'sownstandpointandbeliefs,asopposedtocontraryevidence.Thisfallacyishow"Fortune
Tellers"workIfIamtoldIwillmeeta"tall,darkstranger"Iwillbeonthelookoutforatall,darkstranger,and
whenImeetsomeoneevenmarginallymeetingthatdescriptionIwillmarvelatthecorrectnessofthe"psychic's"
prediction.Seealso,"HalfTruth,"and"Defensiveness."
27.DefaultBias:(also,"Ifitain'tbroke,don'tfixit"Acquiescence"Makingone'speacewiththesituation""Getused
toit""Whateveris,isright""Letitbe,letitbe""Betterthedevilyouknowthanthedevilyoudon'tknow.").The
logicalfallacyofautomaticallyfavoringoracceptingasituationsimplybecauseitexistsrightnow,andarguingthat
anyotheralternativeismad,unthinkable,impossible,oratleastwouldtaketoomucheffort,stressandriskto
change.TheoppositeofthisfallacyisNihilism("Tearitalldown!"),blindlyrejectingwhatexistsinfavorofwhat
couldbe,theinfantiledisorderofromanticizinganarchy,chaos,"permanentrevolution,"orchangeforchange's
sake.
28.Defensiveness(also,ChoicesupportBias):Afallacyofethos(one'sown),inwhichafteronehastakenagiven
decision,commitmentorcourseofaction,oneautomaticallytendstodefendthatdecisionandtoirrationallydismiss
opposingoptions,evenwhenone'sdecisionlateronprovestobeshakyorwrong.E.g.,"Yeah,IvotedforSnith.
Sure,heturnedouttobeacrookandaliarandhegotusintowar,butIstillsaythathewasbetterthantheavailable
alternatives!"Seealso"ArgumentfromInertia"and"ConfirmationBias."
29.DiminishedResponsibility:Thecommoncontemporaryfallacyofapplyingaspecializedjudicialconcept(that
criminalpunishmentshouldbelessifone'sjudgmentwasimpaired)torealityingeneral.E.g.,"Youcan'tcountme
absentonMondayIwashungoverandcouldn'tcometoclasssoit'snotmyfault."Or,"Yeah,Iwasspeedingon
thefreewayandkilledaguy,butIwasbuzzedoutofmymindanddidn'tknowwhatIwasdoingsoitdidn'tmatter
thatmuch."Inrealitythedeathdoesmatterverymuchtothevictim,tohisfamilyandfriendsandtosocietyin
general.Whethertheperpetratorwashighornotdoesnotmatteratallsincethematerialresultsarethesame.This
alsoincludesthefallacyofPanic,averycommoncontemporaryfallacythatone'sactions,nomatterhowdamaging
orevil,somehowdon't"count"because"Ipanicked!"Thisfallacyisrootedintheconfusionof"consequences"with
"punishment."
30.DisciplinaryBlinders:Averycommoncontemporaryscholarlyfallacyofethos(thatofone'sdisciplineorfield),
automaticallydisregarding,discountingorignoringaprioriotherwiserelevantresearch,argumentsandevidence
thatcomefromoutsideone'sownprofessionaldiscipline,discoursecommunityoracademicareaofstudy.E.g.,
"Thatmaybetrueormaybefalse,butit'ssonotwhatwe'redoinginourfieldrightnow,"Seealso,"StarPower."
31.E"forEffort.(alsoNobleEffort)Thecommoncontemporaryfallacythatsomethingmustberight,true,valuable,
orworthyofrespectandhonorsimplybecausesomeonehasputsomuchsinceregoodfaitheffortorevensacrifice
andbloodshedintoit.(SeealsoAppealtoPityArgumentfromInertiaHeroesAllorSobStory.).
32.Either/OrReasoning:(alsoFalseDilemma,FalseDichotomy,Black/WhiteFallacy,FalseBinaryLogic).Afallacy
thatfalselyoffersonlytwopossibleoptionseventhoughabroadrangeofpossiblealternativesarealwaysreadily
available.E.g.,"Eitheryouare100%SimonStraightarroworyouareasqueerasathreedollarbillit'sassimpleas
thatandthere'snomiddleground!"Or,Eitheryoureinwithusallthewayoryoureahostileandmustbe
destroyed!What'sitgonnabe?"Alsoappliestofalselycontrastingoneoptionorcasetoanotherthatisnotreally
opposed,e.g.,falselycountering"BlackLivesMatter"with"BlueLivesMatter"wheninfactnotafewpolice

officersarethemselvesAfricanAmerican,andAfricanAmericansandpolicearenot(oroughtnottobe!)natural
enemies.Seealso,Overgeneralization.
33.Equivocation:Thefallacyofdeliberatelyfailingtodefineone'sterms,orknowinglyanddeliberatelyusingwordsin
adifferentsensethantheonetheaudiencewillunderstand.(E.g.,BillClintonstatingthathedidnothavesexual
relationswith"thatwoman,"meaningnosexualpenetration,knowingfullwellthattheaudiencewillunderstandhis
statementas"Ihadnosexualcontactofanysortwiththatwoman.")Thisisacorruptionoftheargumentfromlogos,
andatacticoftenusedinAmericanjurisprudence.
34.EsotericKnowledge(alsoEsotericWisdom,Gnosticism,InnerTruth):Afallacyfromlogosandethos,thatthereis
someknowledgereservedonlyfortheWise,theHolyortheEnlightened,thingsthatthemassescannotunderstand
anddonotdeservetoknow,atleastnotuntiltheybecomemore"spirituallyadvanced."Thecounterpartofthis
fallacyisthatofObscurantism(alsoObscurationismWillfulIgnorance),that(almostalwayssaidinabasso
profundovoice)"Therearesomethingsthatmeremortalsmustneverseektodiscover!"E.g.,"Scientificresearchon
humansexualityismorallyevil!Therearesomethingsthathumansaresimplynotmeanttoknow!"Forthe
oppositeofthislatter,seethe"PlainTruthFallacy"below.Seealso,ArgumentumadMysteriam.
35.Essentializing:Afallacythatproposesapersonorthingiswhatitisandthatsallthatitis,andatitscorewill
alwaysbethewayitisrightnow(E.g.,"Allterroristsaremonsters,andwillstillbeterroristmonstersevenifthey
livetobe100,"or"'Thepooryouwillalwayshavewithyou,'soanyefforttoeliminatepovertyispointless.").Also
referstothefallacyofarguingthatsomethingisacertainway"bynature,"anemptyclaimthatnoamountofproof
canrefute.(E.g.,"Americansarecoldandgreedybynature,"or"Womenarenaturallybettercooksthanmen.")See
also"DefaultBias."TheoppositeofthisisthefallacyofRelativizing,blithelydismissinganyandallarguments
againstone'sstandpointbyshruggingone'sshouldersandrespondingthat"Everything'srelative,"orfalsely
invokingEinstein,Heisenberg'sUncertaintyPrincipleorQuantumWeirdnesstoconfuse,mystifyor"refute"an
opponent.Seealso,"RedHerring."
36.TheExcludedMiddle:Acorruptedargumentfromlogosthatproposesthatsincealittleofsomethingisgood,more
mustbebetter(orthatiflessofsomethingisgood,noneatallisevenbetter).E.g.,"Ifeatinganappleadayisgood
foryou,eatinganallappledietisevenbetter!"or"Ifalowfatdietprolongsyourlife,azerofatdietshouldmake
youliveforever!"AnoppositeofthisfallacyisthatofExcludedOutliers,whereonearbitrarilydismisses
examplesorresultsthatdisproveone'sstandpointbysimplydescribingthemas"Weird,""Outliers,"or"Atypical."
AlsooppositeisthefallacyoftheMiddlePath,whereonedemonstratesthe"reasonableness"ofone'sown
standpoint(nomatterhowextreme)notonitsownmerits,butbypresentingitasthe"moderate"pathbetweentwo
obviouslyunacceptablealternatives.E.g.LeninsuccessfullyarguedforBolshevismastheonlyavailable
"moderate"middlepathbetweenbombthrowingNihilistterroristsontheultraleftandacorruptandhatedCzarist
autocracyontheright.
37.TheFalseAnalogy:Thefallacyofincorrectlycomparingonethingtoanotherinordertodrawafalseconclusion.
E.g.,"Justlikeanalleycatneedstoprowl,anormaladultcantbetieddowntoonesinglelover."
TheoppositeofthisfallacyistheSuiGenerisFallacy,apostmodernstancethatrejectsthevalidityofanalogyand
ofinductivereasoningaltogetherbecauseanygivenperson,place,thingorideaunderconsiderationis"suigeneris"
i.e.,unique,inaclassuntoitself.
38.FinishtheJob:Thedangerouscontemporaryfallacythatanactionorstandpoint(orthecontinuationoftheaction
orstandpoint)maynotbequestionedordiscussedbecausethereis"ajobtobedone,"falselyassumingall"jobs"are
meaninglessbutnevertobequestioned.Sometimesthoseinvolvedinternalize("buyinto")the"job"andmakethe
taskapartoftheirownethos.(E.g.,"Oursisnottoreasonwhy/Oursisbuttodoordie.")Relatedtothisisthe
"JustaJob"fallacy.(E.g.,"Howcantorturersstandtolookatthemselvesinthemirror?But,Iguessit'sOK
becauseforthemit'sjustajob.")(Seealso"BlindLoyalty,""TheSoldiers'HonorFallacy"and"Argumentfrom
Inertia.")
39.TheFreeSpeechFallacy:Theinfantilefallacyofdefendingone'sstatementsbywhining,"It'safreecountry,isn't
it?IcansayanythingIwantto!"Arecentextremecaseofthisisthe"SafeSpace,"whereoneisnotallowedto
refute,challengeorevendiscussanother'sbeliefsbecausethatmightbetoouncomfortableor"triggery"for
emotionallyfragileindividuals.
40.Gaslighting:Aviciousfallacyoflogic,deliberatelychangingordistortingfacts,memories,scenes,eventsand
evidenceinordertodisorientavulnerableopponentandtomakehimorherdoubthis/hersanity.Thisfallacyis

namedafterBritishplaywrightPatrickHamilton's1938stageplay"GasLight,"alsoknownas"AngelStreet."
41.GuiltbyAssociation:Thefallacyoftryingtorefuteorcondemnsomeone'sstandpoint,argumentsoractionsby
evokingthenegativeethosofthosewithwhomoneisidentifiedorofagroup,party,religionorracetowhichheor
shebelongsoronceassociatedwith.AformofAdHominemArgument,.e.g.,"Don'tlistentoher.She'sa
Republicansoyoucan'ttrustanythingshesays,"or"AreyouorhaveyoueverbeenamemberoftheCommunist
Party?"AnextremeinstanceofthisistheMachiavellian"Formyenemies,nothing"Fallacy,whereperceived
"enemies"arealwayswrongandmustbeconcedednothing,noteventhetimeofday,e.g.,"He'saRepublican,so
evenifhesaidtheskyisblueIwouldn'tbelievehim."
42.TheHalfTruth(alsoCardStacking,StackingtheDeck,IncompleteInformation).Acorruptargumentfromlogos,
thefallacyofconsciouslyselecting,collectingandsharingonlythatevidencethatsupportsone'sownstandpoint,
tellingthestricttruthbutdeliberatelyminimizingoromittingimportantkeydetailsinordertofalsifythelarger
pictureandsupportafalseconclusion.(e.g.ThetruthisthatBangladeshisoneoftheworld'sfastestgrowing
countriesandcanboastofayoung,ambitiousandhardworkingpopulation,awarmclimate,lowcostmedicaland
dentalcare,amultitudeofplacesofworship,adelicious,spicylocalcuisineandaswingingnightclubscene.Taken
together,allthesefactsclearlyprovethatBangladeshisoneoftheworldsmostdesirableplacesforyoungfamilies
tolive,workandraiseafamily.)Seealso,ConfirmationBias.
43.HeroBusting(also,"ThePerfectistheEnemyoftheGood")underwhich,sincenothingandnobodyinthisworld
isperfecttherearenotandhaveneverbeenanyheroes:WashingtonandJeffersonheldslaves,Lincolnwas(byour
contemporarystandards)aracist,KarlMarxhadakidbythehousemaid,MartinLutherKingJr.hadaneyefor
womentoo,Lenincondemnedfeminism,theMahatmadrankhisownurine(ugh!),thePopeiswrongoncapitalism,
samesexmarriageandwomen'sordination,MotherTeresalovedsufferingandwaswrongonjustabouteverything
elsetoo,etc.,etcAlsoappliestothenownearlyuniversalpoliticaltacticofransackingeverythinganopponenthas
said,writtenordonesinceinfancyinordertofindsomethingtomisinterpretorcondemn(andweallhave
something!).AnearlyexampleofthislatterisdeftlydescribedinRobertPennWarren'sclassicnovel,AlltheKing's
Men.Thisistheoppositeofthe"HeroesAll"fallacy.
44.HeroesAll(alsoEverybody'saWinner).Acontemporaryfallacythateveryoneisaboveaverageorextraordinary.A
corruptedargumentfrompathos(notwantinganyonetoloseortofeelbad).Thus,everymemberoftheArmed
Services,pastorpresent,whoservedhonorablyisanationalhero,everystudentwhocompetesintheScienceFair
winsaribbonortrophy,andeveryracerisawardedawinner'syellowjersey.Thiscorruptionoftheargumentfrom
pathos,muchridiculedbyAmericanhumoristGarrisonKeeler,ignoresthefactthatifeverybodywinsnobodywins,
andifeveryone'saheronoone'sahero.Thelogicalresultofthisfallacyisthat,asauthorAliceChildresswrites,"a
heroain'tnothingbutasandwich."Seealsothe"Soldiers'HonorFallacy."
45.IWishIHadaMagicWand:Thefallacyofregretfully(andfalsely)proclaimingoneselfpowerlesstochangea
badorobjectionablesituation.E.g.,"Whatcanwedoaboutgasprices?AsSecretaryofEnergyIwishIhadamagic
wand,butIdon't"[shrug].
Or,"No,youcan'tquitpianolessons.IwishIhadamagicwandandcouldteachyoupianoovernight,butIdon't,so
likeitornot,youhavetokeeponpracticing."Theparent,ofcourse,ignoresthepossibilitythatthechildmaynot
wantorneedtolearnpiano.Seealso,TINA.
46.TheJob'sComforterFallacy(also,"Karmaisab***h""Whatgoesaroundcomesaround."):Thefallacythat
sincethereisnosuchthingasrandomchanceandwe(I,mygroup,ormycountry)areunderspecialprotectionof
heaven,anymisfortuneornaturaldisasterthatwesuffermustbeapunishmentforourownorsomeoneelse'ssecret
sinoropenwickedness.TheoppositeoftheAppealtoHeaven,thisisthefallacyemployedbytheWestboroBaptist
Churchmemberswhoprotestfallenservicemembers'funeralsallaroundtheUnitedStates.Seealso,Magical
Thinking.
47.JustDoit.(also,"Findaway""Idon'tcare""Accomplishthemission""ByAnyMeansNecessary.")A
pure,abusiveArgumentumadBaculum(argumentfromforce),inwhichsomeoneinpowerarbitrarilywavesaside
oroverrulesthemoralobjectionsofsubordinatesorfollowersandordersthemtoaccomplishagoalbyanymeans
required,fairorfoulTheclearimplicationisthatunethicalorimmoralmethodsshouldbeused.E.g.,"Yousay
there'snowayyoucanfinishthedigonschedulebecausethere'sanoldunmarkedgraveyardundertheexcavation
site?Well,findaway!Idon'twanttoknowhowyoudoit,justdoit!Thisisamilliondollarcontractandweneedit
donebyTuesday."Seealso,PlausibleDeniability.

48.JustPlainFolks(also,"Values"):Thiscorruptmodernargumentfromethosarguestoalesseducatedorrural
audiencethattheonearguingis"justplainfolks"who"speaksplainly,""sayswhatheisthinking,"andthinkslike
theaudience,andisthusworthyofbelief,unlikesome"doubledomedprofessor,""Washingtonbureaucrat,""tree
hugger"orotherdespisedoutsiderwho"doesn'tthinklikewedo"or"doesn'tshareourvalues."Thisisa
counterparttotheAdHominemFallacyandoccasionallycarriesadistinctflavorofxenophobiaorracismaswell.
Thisalsoincludesthefallacythat"We'rejustplainfolkssoweneedtokeepourheadsdownandnotgetinvolvedin
thebigthingsofthisworld,likepolitics,demonstrationsorprotests."SeealsothePlainTruthFallacy.
49.TheLawofUnintendedConsequences(also,"EveryRevolutionEndsupEatingitsownYoung"Resilience
Doctrine):Inthisverydangerous,archlypessimisticpostmodernfallacythebogus"LawofUnintended
Consequences,"onceasemihumoroussatiricalcorollaryof"Murphy'sLaw,"iselevatedtotothestatusofaniron
lawofhistory.Thisfallacyarbitrarilyproclaimsapriorithatsincewecanneverknoweverythingorforesee
anything,soonerorlaterintoday's"complexworld"unforeseeableadverseconsequencesandnegativesideeffects
(socalled"unknownunknowns")willalwaysendupblindsidingandoverwhelming,defeatingandvitiatinganyand
all"dogooder"effortstoimproveourworld.Instead,wemustalwaysexpectdefeatandbereadytorollwiththe
punchesbydeveloping"grit"or"resilience"asaprimarysurvivalskill.Thisnihilistfallacyisapracticalnegationof
thethepossibilityofanyargumentfromlogos.Seealso,TINA.
50.LyingwithStatistics:Thecontemporaryfallacyofusingtruefiguresandnumberstoproveunrelatedclaims.(e.g.
"Collegetuitioncostshaveactuallyneverbeenlower.Whenexpressedasapercentageofthenationaldebt,thecost
ofgettingacollegeeducationisactuallyfarlowertodaythanitwasin1965!").Acorruptedargumentfromlogos,
oftenpreyingonthepublic'sperceivedoractualmathematicalignorance.ThisincludestheTinyPercentage
Fallacy,thatanexpensethatisquitesignificantinandofitselfsomehowbecomesinsignificantsimplybecauseit'sa
tinypercentageofsomethingmuchlarger.E.g.,aconsumerwhowouldchokeonspendinganextradollarfortwo
cansofpeaswilltypicallyignore$50extraonthepriceofacaror$1000extraonthepriceofahousesimply
becausethesedifferencesare"only"atinypercentageofthemuchlargeramountbeingspent.Historically,sales
taxesorvalueaddedtaxeshavesuccessfullygainedpublicacceptanceandremain"undertheradar"becauseofthis
latterfallacy.SeealsoHalftruth,SnowJob,andRedHerring.
51.MagicalThinking(also,theSinofPresumption)::Anancientbutdeludedfallacyoflogos,thatwhenitcomesto
"crunchtime,"providedonehasenoughfaith,prayshardenough,doestherightrituals,or"claimsthepromise,"
GodwillalwayssuspendthelawsoftheuniverseandworkamiracleattherequestoftheTrueBeliever.Inpractice
thisnihilistfallacydeniestheexistenceofarationalorpredictableuniverseandthusthepossibilityofanyvalid
argumentfromlogic.Seealso,PositiveThinking,theAppealtoHeaven,andtheJob'sComforterfallacy..
52.MalaFides(ArguinginBadFaithalsoSophism):Usinganargumentthatthearguerhimselforherselfknowsis
notvalid.E.g.,AnunbelieverattackingbelieversbythrowingversesfromtheirownHolyScripturesatthem,ora
lawyerarguingfortheinnocenceofsomeonewhoms/heknowsfullwelltobeguilty.Thislatterisacommon
practiceinAmericanjurisprudence,andissometimesportrayedastheworstfaceof"Sophism."[Specialthanksto
BradleySteffensforpointingoutthisfallacy!]IncludedunderthisfallacyisthefallacyofMotivationalTruth
(also,Demagogy),deliberatelylyingto"thepeople"tomotivatethemtowardsomeactiontherhetorperceivestobe
desirable(usingevildiscursivemeanstowardagoodmaterialend).Aparticularlybizarreandcorruptformofthis
latterfallacyisSelfDeception(also,WhistlingbytheGraveyard).inwhichonedeliberatelyandknowingly
deludesoneselfinordertoachieveagoal,orperhapssimplyinordertosuppressanxietyandmaintainone'senergy
level,enthusiasm,morale,peaceofmindorsanityinmomentsofadversity.
53.Measurability:Acorruptargumentfromlogosandethos(thatofscienceandmathematics),themodernFallacyof
Measurabilityproposesthatifsomethingcannotbemeasuredandquantifieditdoesnotexist,oris"nothingbut
touchyfeelystuff"unworthyofseriousconsideration,mereanecdotalgossiporsubjectiveopinion.
54.MoralLicensing:Thecontemporaryethicalfallacythatone'sconsistentlymorallife,goodbehaviororrecent
extremesufferingorsacrificeearnshim/hertherighttocommitanimmoralactwithoutrepercussions,consequences
orpunishment.E.g.,"I'vebeengoodallyear,soonebadwon'tmatter,"or"AfterwhatI'vebeenthrough,God
knowsIneedthis."ThefallacyofMoralLicensingisalsosometimesappliedtonations,e.g.,"Thosewhocriticize
repressionandtheGulagintheformerUSSRforgetwhatextraordinarysufferingtheRussianswentthroughin
WorldWarIIandthemillionsuponmillionswhodied."SeealsoArgumentfromMotives.Theoppositeofthis
fallacyisthe(excessivelyrareinourtimes)ethicalfallacyofScruples,inwhichoneobsessestopathologicalexcess
aboutone'saccidental,forgotten,unconfessedorunforgivensinsandbecauseofthem,theseeminglyinevitable
prospectofeternaldamnation.

55.MovingtheGoalpost:Afallacyoflogos,demandingacertaindegreeofprooforevidenceandthenwhenthisis
offered,demandingevenmore,differentorbetterevidenceinordertovalidateanargumentorestablishafact.
56.MYOB(MindYourOwnBusinessalsoYou'reNottheBossofMe"SoWhat?",TheAppealtoPrivacy),The
contemporaryfallacyofarbitrarilyterminatinganydiscussionofone'sownstandpointsorbehavior,nomatterhow
absurd,dangerous,eviloroffensive,bydrawingaphonycurtainofprivacyaroundoneselfandone'sactions.A
corruptargumentfromethos(yourown).(E.g.,"Sure,IwasdoingeightyandweavingbetweenlanesonMesa
Streetwhat'sittoyou?You'renotacop,you'renotmynanny.It'smybusinesstospeed,andyourbusinesstoget
thehelloutofmyway.Mindyourownbusiness!"Or,"Yeah,Ikilledmybaby.Sowhat?Buttout!It'snoneofyour
business!")Rationaldiscussioniscutoffbecause"itisnoneofyourbusiness!"Seealso,"Taboo."Thecounterpart
ofthisis"NobodyWillEverKnow,"(also"WhathappensinVegasstaysinVegas""Ithinkwe'realonenow,"or
theHeartofDarknessSyndrome)thefallacythatjustbecausenobodyimportantislooking(orbecauseoneison
vacation,orawayincollege,oroverseas)onemayfreelycommitimmoral,selfish,negativeorevilactsatwill
withoutexpectinganyofthenormalconsequencesorpunishment.AuthorJosephConradgraphicallydescribesthis
sortofmoraldegradationinthecharacterofKurtzinhisclassicnovel,TheHeartofDarkness.
57.NameCalling:Avarietyofthe"AdHominem"argument.Thedangerousfallacythat,simplybecauseofwhoone
is,anyandallarguments,disagreementsorobjectionsagainstone'sstandpointoractionsareautomaticallyracist,
sexist,antiSemitic,bigoted,discriminatoryorhateful.E.g.,"Mystandonabortionistheonlycorrectone.To
disagreewithme,arguewithmeorquestionmyjudgmentinanywaywouldonlyshowwhatapigyoureally
are."Alsoappliestorefutinganargumentbysimplycallingita"fallacy,"ordeclaringitinvalidwithoutprovingwhy
itisinvalid,orsummarilydismissingargumentsoropponentsbylabelingthem"racist,""communist,""fascist,"or
someothernegativenamewithoutfurtherexplanation.AsubsetofthisistheNewspeakfallacy,creating
identificationwithacertainkindofaudiencebyinventingracistoroffensive,sometimesmilitarysounding
nicknamesforcommonenemies,e.g.,"ThedamnedDINO'sareevenworsethantheRepugsandtheNeocons."Or,
"IntheBigOneittookusonlyfiveyearstobeatboththeJ*psandtheJerries,soadecadeandahalfafterniner
elevenwhyisitsohardforustobeataraggedybunchofHajjisandTowelheads?"Seealso,"Reductionism,""Ad
HominemArgument,"and"AlphabetSoup."
58.NoDiscussion(alsoNoNegotiation,theControlVoice,PeacethroughStrength,MuscularPolicy,Fascism):Apure
ArgumentumadBaculumthatrejectsreasoneddialogue,offeringeitherinstant,unconditionalcompliance/surrender
ordefeat/deathastheonlytwooptionsforsettlingevenminordifferences.E.g.,"Getdownontheground,now!"or
"Wedon'ttalktoterrorists."Thisdeadlyfallacyfalselypaintsrealorpotential"hostiles"asmonstersdevoidofall
reason,andfartoooftencontainsaverystrongelementof"machismo"aswell.I.e."Areal,muscularleadernever
resortstopantywaistpleading,apologies,fancytalkorargument.That'sforlawyers,liarsandpansiesandisnothing
butadelayingtactic.Arealmanstandstall,talksstraight,drawsfastandshootstokill."ThelateactorJohnWayne
frequentlyportrayedthisfallacyinhismovieroles.Seealso,ThePout.
59.Nonrecognition:Adeludedfallacyinwhichonedeliberatelychoosesnottopublicly"recognize"groundtruth,
usuallyonthetheorythatthiswouldsomehowrewardevildoersifwerecognizetheirdeedsasreal.Oftenthe
underlyingtheoryisthatthesituationis"temporary"andwillsoonbereversed.E.g.,Inthedecadesfrom1949until
RichardNixon'stimetheUnitedStatesofficiallyrefusedtorecognizetheexistenceofthemostpopulousnationon
earth,thePeople'sRepublicofChinabecauseAmericasupportedtheRepublicofChinagovernmentonTaiwan
insteadandhopedtheymightreturntopoweronthemainland.MorethanhalfacenturyaftertheKoreanWarthe
U.S.stillrefusestopronouncethenameoforrecognizeanucleararmedDPRK(NorthKorea).Anindividualwho
doesthisrisksinstitutionalization(e.g.,"IrefusetorecognizeMom'smurder,'cuzthatwouldgivethevictorytothe
murderer!Irefusetowatchyouburyher!Stop!Stop!")buttragically,suchbehaviorisonlytoocommonin
internationalrelations.SeealsotheStateActorFallacy,PoliticalCorrectness,andThePout.
60.TheNonSequitur:Thefallacyofofferingreasonsorconclusionsthathavenologicalconnectiontotheargumentat
hand(e.g.ThereasonIflunkedyourcourseisbecausethegovernmentisnowprintingpurplefivedollarbills!
Purple!).(SeealsoRedHerring.)
OccasionallyinvolvesthebreathtakingarroganceofclaimingtohavespecialknowledgeofwhyGod,fateorthe
Universeisdoingcertainthings.E.g.,"Thisweek'searthquakewasobviouslymeanttopunishthosepeoplefortheir
greatwickedness."
61.NothingNewUndertheSun(also,Seenitallbefore"Surprise,surprise""Plusachange,plusc'estlamme
chose.")Fairlyrareincontemporarydiscourse,thisdeeplycynicalfallacy,acorruptionoftheargumentfromlogos,
falselyproposesthatthereisnotandhasneverbeenanyrealnoveltyinthisworld,.Anyargumentthatthereare

trulynewideasorphenomenaisjudgedaprioritobeunworthyofseriousdiscussionanddismissedwithajaded
sighandawaveofthehandas"thesameoldsameold."E.g.,[Sigh!]Idiots!Don'tyouseethatthecurrentinflux
ofrefugeesfromtheMideastisjustthesameoldMusliminvasionofEuropethatsbeengoingonfor1,400years?
Or,Libertarianismisnothingbutrewarmedanarchism,which,inturn,isnothingbuttheancientAntinomian
Heresy.LikeItoldyoubefore,there'snothingnewunderthesun!
62.OlfactoryRhetoric(also,"TheNoseKnows"):Avicious,animallevelfallacyofpathosinwhichopponentsare
dismissedordehumanizedprimarilybasedontheirimaginedodor,lackofpersonalcleanliness,orfilth.E.g.,
"Thosedemonstratorsaredemandingsomething,butI'llonlytalktothemiffirsttheygohomeandtakeabath!"Or,
"Thosefilthy****'sstink!"Alsoappliestodemeaningotherculturesornationalitiesbasedontheirdiffering
cuisines,e.g.,"Idon'tcarewhattheysay,theirbreathalwaysstinksofgarlic.Andhaveyoueversmelledtheir
kitchens?"Seealso,"They'reNotLikeUs."
63.Overexplanation:Afallacyoflogosstemmingfromtheparadoxthatbeyondacertainpoint,moreverbal
explanation,instructionsordiscussioninevitablyresultsinless,notmore,understanding.Contemporaryurban
mythologyholdsthatthisfallacyistypicallymale("Mansplaining"),whilebarelyhalfacenturyagotheprevailing
mythwasthatitwasmenwhowerenonverbalwhilewomenwouldtypicallyoverexplain(e.g.,the1960hitsong
byJoeJones,"YouTalkTooMuch")."Mansplaining"is,accordingtoscholarDanellePecht,"theinfuriating
tendencyofmanymentoalwayshavetobethesmartestpersonintheroom,regardlessofthetopicofdiscussion
andhowmuchtheyactuallyknow!"Seealso"PlainTruth."
64.Overgeneralization(alsoHastyGeneralization,TotusproPartesFallacy,MerologicalFallacy)whereabroad
generalizationthatisagreedtobetrueisofferedasoverridingallparticularcases,particularlyspecialcases
requiringimmediateattention.E.g.,"Doctor,yousaythatthistimeofyearafluvaccinationisessential.butIwould
counterthatALLvaccinationsareessential"(implyingthatI'mnotgoingtogivespecialattentiontogettingtheflu
shot).Or,attemptingtorefute"BlackLivesMatter"byreplying,'AllLivesMatter,"thelatterundeniablytruebut
stillafallaciousovergeneralizationinthatspecificandurgentcontext."Overgeneralization"alsoincludesthethe
ParsproTotoFallacy,.thestupidbutcommonfallacyofincorrectlyapplyingoneortwotrueexamplestoallcases.
E.g.SomecollegestudentwastailgatingmeallthewayupNorthMainStreetlastnight.Thisprovesthatallcollege
studentsarelousydriversandthatweshouldpulltheirdriverslicensesuntiltheyeithergrowup,learntodriveor
graduate!
65.TheParalysisofAnalysis(also,Procrastination,theNirvanaFallacy):Apostmodernfallacythatsincealldatais
neverin,anyconclusionisalwaysprovisional,nolegitimatedecisioncaneverbemadeandanyactionshould
alwaysbedelayeduntilforcedbycircumstances.Acorruptionoftheargumentfromlogos.
(Seealso"LawofUnintendedConsequences.")
66.ThePassiveVoiceFallacy(also,theBureaucraticPassive):Afallacyfromethos,concealingagencybehindthe
curtainofthegrammaticalpassivevoice,e.g.,"Ithasbeendecidedthatyouwillbeletgo,"arrogatinganethosof
cosmicinfallibilityandinevitabilitytoaveryfallibleconsciousdecisionmadebyidentifiableandfalliblehuman
beings.
67.Paternalism:Afallacyofethos,arbitrarilytuttutting,dismissingorignoringanother'sconcernsas"childish"or
"immature"takingacondescendingattitudeofsuperioritytowardopposingargumentsortowardopponents
themselves.E.g.,"Yourargumentagainstwarissoinfantile.Tryapproachingtheissuelikeanadultforachange,""I
don'targuewithchildren,"or"Somebodyhastobethegrownupintheroom,anditmightaswellbeme.Here'swhy
you'rewrong..."Alsoreferstothesexistfallacyofdismissingawoman'sargumentbecausesheisawoman,e.g.,
"Oh,itmustbethattimeofthemonth,eh?"Seealso"AdHominemArgument."
68.ThePlainTruthFallacy(also,theSimpleTruthfallacy,SalienceBias,theKISSPrinciple[KeepitShortand
Simple],theExecutiveSummary):Afallacyoflogosfavoringfamiliaroreasilycomprehensibledata,examplesand
evidenceoverthatwhichismorecomplexandunfamiliarbutmuchclosertothetruth.E.g,"Ooooh,lookatallthose
equationsandformulas!JustboilitdowntotheSimpleTruth,"or"Idon'twantyourdamnedphilosophylesson!
JusttellmethePlainTruthaboutwhythisishappening."Amoresophisticatedversionofthisfallacyarbitrarily
proposes,asdid18thcenturyScottishrhetoricianJohnCampbell,thattheTruthisalwayssimplebynatureandonly
maliciousenemiesoftheTruthwouldeverseektomakeitcomplicated.(Seealso,TheSnowJob,and
Overexplanation.)TheoppositeofthisisthepostmodernfallacyofIneffabilityorComplexity,arbitrarilydeclaring
thattoday'sworldissocomplexthatthereisnotruth,orthatTruth(capitalT),ifindeedsuchathingexists,is

unknowableexceptbyGodandisthusforeverinaccessibleandirrelevanttousmerefinitemortals,makingany
cogentargumentfromlogosimpossible.SeealsotheParalysisofAnalysis,andOverexplanation.
69.PlausibleDeniability:Aviciousfallacyofethosunderwhichsomeoneinpowerforcesthoseunderhisorher
controltodosomequestionableorevilactandtothenfalselyassumeorconcealresponsibilityforthatactinorder
toprotecttheethosoftheoneincommand.E.g.,"ArrangeafatalaccidentbutmakesureIknownothingaboutit!"
70.PlayingonEmotion(also,theSobStorythePatheticFallacythe"BleedingHeart"fallacy):Theclassicfallacyof
pureargumentfrompathos,ignoringfactsandcallingonemotionalone.E.g.,Ifyoudontagreethatwitchcraftisa
majorproblemjustshutup,closeyoureyesforamomentandpictureinyourmindallthosepoormomscryingbitter
tearsfortheirinnocenttinychildrenwhosecozylittlebedsandhappytricycleslieallcoldandabandoned,just
becauseofthosewickedoldwitches!Let'sstringemallup!TheoppositeofthisisthearchlycynicalApathetic
Fallacy,whereanyandalllegitimateargumentsfrompathosarebrushedasidebecause,inthewordsofcountry
musicsingerJoDeeMessina,"Mygiveadamnisbusted."
AlsoassociatedwiththePatheticFallacyisthefallacyofRefinement("RealFeelings"),wherecertainclassesof
livingbeingssuchasplantsandanimals,infants,babiesandminorchildren,slaves,deepseasailors,farmworkers,
criminalsandconvicts,refugees,addicts,terrorists,foreigners,thepoor,or"thelowerclasses"ingeneralaredeemed
incapableofexperiencingrealpainlikewedo,orofhavingany"realfeelings"atall,onlybrutishappetites,filthy
lusts,instincts,drives,cravingsandautomatictropisms.Seealso,They'reNotLikeUs.
71.PoliticalCorrectness("PC"):Apostmodernfallacy,acounterpartofthe"NameCalling"fallacy,supposingthatthe
natureofathingorsituationcanbechangedbysimplychangingitsname.E.g.,"Todaywestrikeablowforanimal
rightsandagainstcrueltytoanimalsbychangingthenameofpetstoanimalcompanions."Or"Never,everplay
the'victim'card,becauseit'ssomanipulativeandsoundssonegative,helplessanddespairing.Insteadofsaying
'victims,'weare'survivors.'"(Ofcourse,when"victims"disappearthenperpetratorsconvenientlyvanishaswell!)
Alsoappliestootherformsofpolitical"LanguageControl,"e.g.,beingcarefulnevertorefertoNorthKoreaor
ISIS/ISILbytheirratherpompouspropernames("theDemocraticPeople'sRepublicofKorea"and"theIslamic
State,"respectively)ortotheSyriangovernmentasthe"Syriangovernment,"(It'salwaysthe"Regime"orthe
"Dictatorship.").Seealso,Nonrecognition.
72.ThePositiveThinkingFallacy:Animmenselypopularbutdeludedmodernfallacyoflogos,thatbecauseweare
"thinkingpositively"thatinitselfsomehowbiasesexternal,objectiverealityinourfavorevenbeforeweliftafinger
toact.Seealso,MagicalThinking.Notethatthisparticularfallacyisoftenpartofamuchwiderclosedminded,
sometimescultishideologywherethepractitioneriswarnedagainstpayingattentiontotoorevenacknowledging
theexistenceof"negative"evidenceorcounterargumentsagainsthis/herstandpoints.Inthelattercaserational
argumentorrefutationismostoftenfutile.
73.ThePostHocArgument:(also,"PostHocPropterHoc""Toomuchofacoincidence,"the"ClusteringIllusion"):
Theclassicparanoiacfallacyofattributingimaginarycausalitytorandomcoincidences,concludingthatjustbecause
somethinghappenscloseto,atthesametimeas,orjustaftersomethingelse,thefirstthingiscausedbythesecond.
E.g.,"AIDSfirstemergedasaproblembackintheverysameerawhenDiscomusicwasbecomingpopularthat's
toomuchofacoincidence:ItprovesthatDiscocausedAIDS!"
74.ThePout(alsoTheSilentTreatmentNonviolentCivilDisobedienceNoncooperation):.AnArgumentumad
Baculumthatarbitrarilyrejectsorgivesupondialoguebeforeitisconcluded.Themostbenignnonviolentformof
thisfallacyisfoundinpassiveaggressivetacticssuchasslowdowns,boycotts,lockouts,sitdownsandstrikes.The
UnitedStatesrecentlyendedahalfcenturylongpoliticalPoutwithCuba.Seealso"NoDiscussion"and
"Nonrecognition."
75.TheRedHerring:Anirrelevantdistraction,attemptingtomisleadanaudiencebybringingupanunrelatedbut
usuallyemotionallyloadedissue.E.g.,"Inregardtomyseveralbankruptciesandrecentindictmentforcorruption
letsbestraightupaboutwhatsreallyimportant:Terrorism!VoteformeandI'llfightthoseterroristsanywherein
theworld!"Alsoappliestoraisingunrelatedissuesasfalselyopposingtheissueathand,e.g.,"Yousay'BlackLives
Matter,"butIsay'ZikaMatters!'"whenthetwocontentionsareinnowayopposed,onlycompetingforattention.
SeealsoAvailabilityBias.
76.ReductioadHitlerum(or,adHitleram):Ahighlyproblematiccontemporaryhistoricalrevisionistcontentionthat
theargument"That'sjustwhatHitlersaid(orwouldhavesaid)"isafallacy,aninstanceoftheAdHominem

argumentand/orGuiltbyAssociation.WhethertheReductioadHitlerumcanbeconsideredanactualfallacyornot
seemstofundamentallydependonone'spersonalviewofHitlerandthegravityofhiscrimes.
77.Reductionism:(also,Oversimplifying,Sloganeering):Thefallacyofdeceivinganaudiencebygivingsimple
answersorbumperstickerslogansinresponsetocomplexquestions,especiallywhenappealingtolesseducatedor
unsophisticatedaudiences.E.g.,"Iftheglovedoesntfit,youmustvotetoacquit."Or,"VoteforSnith.He'stoughon
terrorism!"
78.Reifying:Thefallacyoftreatingimaginarycategoriesasactual,material"things."(E.g.,"TheWaragainstTerroris
afighttothedeathbetweenFreedomandAbsoluteEvil!")Sometimesalsoreferredtoas"Essentializing"or
Hypostatization.
79.TheRomanticRebel(also,theTruthoutFallacytheBraveHeretictheIconoclasticFallacy):Thecontemporary
fallacyofclaimingtruthorvalidityforone'sstandpointsolelyorprimarilybecauseoneisheroicallystandingupto
prevailing"orthodoxy,"thecurrentStandardModel,conventionalwisdom,orwhatevermaybetheBandwagonof
themomentacorruptargumentfromethos.E.g.,"Backinthedaythescientificestablishmentthoughtthatthe
worldwasflat,untilColumbusprovedthemwrong!Nowscientificorthodoxyhasusbelievingthatordinarywater
isnothingbutH2,O.Areyougoingtobelievethem?They'refranticallytryingtosuppressthetruththatourdrinking
wateractuallyhasnitrogeninitandcausescongenitalvampirism!AndwhataboutArea51?Don'tyoucare?Orare
youjustakissupforthecorruptsystem?"TheoppositeoftheBandwagonfallacy.
80.Scapegoating(also,Blamecasting):Theancientfallacythatwheneversomethinggoeswrongthere'salways
someoneotherthanoneselftoblame.Sometimesthisfallacyisapracticaldenialofrandomnessorchanceitself,in
contemporarytimesitismoreoftenamereinsurancedrivenbusinessdecision("Idon'tcareifitwasaccident!
Somebodywithdeeppocketsisgonnapayforthis!"),thoughoftenscapegoatingiscynicallyusedtoshieldthose
trulyresponsiblefromblame.AparticularlycorruptandcynicalexampleofthisisBlamingtheVictim,inwhich
onefalselycaststheblameforone'sownevilorquestionableactionsonthoseaffected,e.g.,"Ifyoumoveaneyelash
I'llhavetokillyouandyou'llbetoblame!"or"Youbi**h,youdressedimmodestlyandmademerapeyou!Then
yousnitchedonmeandnowI'mgoingtoprison,andit'sallyourfault!"Seealso,theAffectiveFallacy.
81.TheScareTactic(alsoParanoia):AvarietyofPlayingonEmotions,arawappealtofear.Acorruptedargument
frompathos.(E.g.,"Ifyoudon'tshutupanddowhatIsaywe'reallgonnadie!Inthismomentofcrisiswecan't
affordtheluxuryofcriticizingortryingtosecondguessmydecisionswhenourverylivesandfreedomareinperil!
Instead,weneedtobeunitedasone!")Seealso,"WeHavetodoSomething!."
82.SendingtheWrongMessage:Adangerousfallacyoflogosthatattacksagivenstatement,argumentoraction,no
matterhowtrueornecessary,becauseitwill"sendthewrongmessage."Ineffect,thosewhousethisfallacyare
openlyconfessingtofraudandadmittingthatthetruthwilldestroythefragilewebofillusionthathasbeencreated
bytheirlies.E.g.,"Actually,we'relosingthewaragainstdrugshandsdown,butifwepubliclyadmititwe'llbe
sendingthewrongmessage."Seealso,"MalaFides."
83.ShiftingtheBurdenofProof.Aclassicfallacyoflogosthatchallengesanopponenttodisproveacontroversial
claimratherthanaskingthepersonmakingtheclaimtodefendhis/herownargument.E.g.,"Spacealiensare
everywhereamongusmasqueradingastruehumans,evenrighthereoncampus!Idareyouproveitisn'tso!See?
Youcan't!Youadmitit!ThatmeanswhatIsayhastobetrue."Seealso,ArgumentfromIgnorance.

84.TheSlipperySlope(also,theDominoTheory):Thecommonfallacythat"onethinginevitablyleadstoanother."
E.g.,"Ifyoutwogoanddrinkcoffeetogetheronethingwillleadtoanotherandnextthingyouknowyou'llbe
pregnantandendupspendingyourlifeonwelfarelivingintheProjects,"or"IfwecloseGitmoonethingwilllead
toanotherandbeforeyouknowitarmedterroristswillbestrollingthroughourchurchdoorsonSundaymorning
withsuicidebelts!"
85.TheSnowJob(alsoInformationBias):Thefallacyofprovingaclaimbyoverwhelminganaudiencewith
mountainsofmarginallyrelevantfacts,numbers,documents,graphsandstatisticsthatlookextremelyimpressive
butwhichtheycannotbeexpectedtounderstandorevaluate.Thisisacorruptedargumentfromlogos.Seealso,
"LyingwithStatistics."
TheoppositeofthisfallacyisthePlainTruthFallacy.

86.TheSoldiers'HonorFallacy.Theancientfallacythatallwhoworeauniform,foughthardandfollowedordersare
worthyofsomespecialhonororgloryorareeven"heroes,"whethertheyfoughtforfreedomorfoughttodefend
slavery,marchedunderGrantorLee,Hitler,StalinorMcArthur,foughttodefendtheirhomes,foughtforoilorto
spreadempire,orevenfoughtagainstandkilledU.S.soldiers!.Acorruptargumentfromethos(thatofasoldier),
closelyrelatedtothe"FinishtheJob"fallacy("Sure,hediedforalie,buthedeserveshonorbecausehefollowed
ordersanddidhisjobtotheend!").Seealso"HeroesAll."Thisfallacywasrecognizedanddecisivelyrefutedatthe
NuremburgTrialsafterWorldWarIIbutremainspowerfultothisdaynonetheless.Seealso"BlindLoyalty."Related
istheStateActorFallacy,thatthosewhofightanddieforacountry(America,Russia,Iran,theThirdReich,etc.)
areworthyofhonororatleastpardonablewhilethosewhofightforanonstateactor(abolitionists,guerrillas,
freedomfighters,jihadis)arenotandremain"terrorists"nomatterhownobleorviletheircause,untilorunlessthey
areadoptedbyastateafterthefact.
87.StarPower(alsoTestimonial,QuestionableAuthority,FaultyUseofAuthority):Inacademia,acorruptargument
fromethosinwhicharguments,standpointsandthemesofacademicdiscoursearegrantedvalidityorcondemnedto
obscuritysolelybywhoeverthereigning"stars"ofthedisciplineareatthemoment,e.g.,"NetworkTheoryhasbeen
thoroughlycriticizedandissolastweek!.Thisweekeveryone'sintoSafeSpaces,TriggerWarnings,andPierce's
TheoryofMicroaggressions.Getwiththeprogram."(Seealso,theBandwagon.)Atthepopularlevelthisalsorefers
toacorruptargumentfromethosinwhichpopularsupportforastandpointorproductisestablishedbyawell
knownorrespectedfigure(e.g.astarathleteorentertainer)whoisnotanexpertandwhomayhavebeenwellpaid
tomaketheendorsement(e.g.,OlympicgoldmedalpolevaulterFulanodeTalusesQuickFlushInternetshouldnt
you?"Or,"Myfavoriterockstarwarnsthatvaccinationsspreadcooties,soI'mnotvaccinatingmykids!").Includes
otherfalse,meaninglessorpaidmeansofassociatingoneselforonesproductorstandpointwiththeethosofa
famouspersonorevent(e.g.,TrySalsaCabria,theofficialtacosauceoftheWinterOlympics!).
88.TheStrawMan(also"TheStrawPerson"""TheStrawFigure"):Thefallacyofsettingupaphony,weak,extreme
orridiculousparodyofanopponent'sargumentandthenproceedingtoknockitdownwithawaveofthehand.E.g.,
"Vegetarianssayanimalshavefeelingslikeyouandme.EverseenacowlaughataShakespearecomedy?
Vegetarianismisnonsense!"Or,"Prochoicershatebabies!"Or,"Prolifershatewomenandwantthemtospendtheir
livesbarefoot,pregnantandchainedtothekitchenstove!"ThisfallacyisonlytoocommoninAmericanpoliticsand
populardiscourse.
89.TheTaboo:Thefallacyofunilaterallydeclaringcertainarguments,standpointsoractions"sacrosanct"andnotopen
todiscussion,orarbitrarilytakingsometones,standpointsoroptions"offthetable"beforehand.(E.g.,"Iwon'ttalk
toyouuntilyoucalmdown,""No,let'snotdiscussmysexuality,""Don'tbringmydrinkingintothis,"or"Beforewe
start,youneedtoknowIwon'tallowyoutoplaytheracecardortoattackmyargumentsbyclaiming'That'sjust
whatHitlerwouldsay!'")Alsoappliestodiscountingorrejectingcertainargumentsandevidenceoutofhand
becausetheyare"againsttheBible"orothersacreddoctrine(SeealsotheAPrioriArgument).Thisfallacy
occasionallydegeneratesintoaseparate,distractingargumentoverwhogetstodefinetheparameters,toneand
taboosofthemainargument,thoughatthispointreasoneddiscoursemostoftenbreaksdownandtheentireaffair
becomesanakedArgumentunadBaculum.Seealso,TonePolicing.
90.They'reallCrooks.Thecontemporaryfallacyofrefusingtogetinvolvedinpublicpoliticsbecauseallpoliticians
andpoliticsareallegedlycorrupt,ignoringthefactthatifthisissoitispreciselybecause"decent"peoplelikeyou
andIrefusetogetinvolved,leavingthefieldopentothe"crooks"bydefault.AnexampleofCircularReasoning.
91.They'reNotLikeUs(also,Stereotyping,Xenophobia.EthnicPrejudice):Abadlycorrupted,discriminatory
argumentfromethoswherefacts,arguments,experiencesorobjectionsarearbitrarilydisregarded,ignoredorput
downwithoutseriousconsiderationbecausethoseinvolved"arenotlikeus,"or"don'tthinklikeus."E.g.,"It'sOK
forMexicanstoearnabuckanhourinthemaquiladoras.IfithappenedhereI'dcallitbrutalexploitationand
daylightrobberybutsouthoftheborder,downMexicowaythey'redifferentfromus."Or,"Youclaimthatlifemust
bereallyterribleoverthereforterroriststoeverthinkofblowingthemselvesupwithsuicidevestsjusttomakea
point,butalwaysrememberthatthey'redifferentfromus.Theydon'tthinkaboutlifeanddeaththesamewaywe
do."AvarietyoftheAdHominemFallacy,mostoftenappliedtononwhiteornonChristianpopulations.A
variationofthisfallacyisthe"Speakee"Fallacy("YouspeakeedaEnglish?"),inwhichanopponentismocked,
ridiculedordismissedsolelybecauseofher/hisallegedorrealaccent,dialect,orlackoffluencyinstandardEnglish,
e.g.,"Hetoldme'Veevorkersneedtoformaunion!'butItoldhimtocomebackwhenhelearnstospeakEnglish."
Anextremeexampleof"They'reNotLikeUs"isDehumanization,whereopponentsaredismissedasmere
cockroaches,lice,apes,monkeys,orbloodsuckingparasiteswhocanandprobablyshouldbe"squashedlikebugs."
Thisfallacyisthe"logic"ofgenocideandofgasovens.Seealso"NameCalling"and"OlfactoryRhetoric."

92.The"ThousandFlowers"Fallacy(also,"Takenamesandkickbutt."):Asophisticated"ArgumentumadBaculum"
inwhichfreeandopendiscussionand"brainstorming"istemporarilyallowedandencouragednotinordertohear
andconsideropposingviews,butratherto"smokeout,"identifyandlaterpunishorliquidatedissenters.Thename
comesfromtheThousandFlowersPeriodinChinesehistorywhenCommunistleaderChairmanMaoTseTung
appliedthispolicywithdeadlyeffect.
93.TINA(ThereIsNoAlternative.Also"That'sanorder,""Getoverit,""Suckitup,""Itiswhatitis,"orthe"Fait
Accompli").Averycommoncontemporaryextensionoftheeither/orfallacyinwhichsomeoneinpowerquashes
criticalthoughtbyannouncingthatthereisnorealisticalternativetoagivenstandpoint,statusoraction,arbitrarily
rulinganyandallotheroptionsoutofbounds,orannouncingthatadecisionhasbeenmadeandanyfurther
discussionisinsubordination,disloyalty,disobedienceorsimplyawasteofprecioustimewhenthere'sajobtobe
done.(Seealso,"Taboo""FinishtheJob.")OftenavarietyoftheArgumentumadBaculum.
94.TonePolicing.Acorruptargumentfrompathos,thefallacyofjudgingthevalidityofanargumentprimarilybyits
emotionaltoneofdelivery.I.e.,avalidargumentremainsvalidwhetheritisofferedcalmlyanddeliberativelyorina
"shrill"oreven"hysterical"tone,whethercalmlystatedinprofessional,academiclanguageorscreamedoutthrough
abullhornandpepperedwithvulgarity.Conversely,ahighlyurgent,emotionalmatterisstillurgentevenifargued
coldlyandrationally.Thisfallacycreatesafalsedichotomybetweenreasonandemotionandthusimplicitlyfavors
thosewhoarenotpersonallyinvolvedoremotionallyinvestedinanargument,e.g.,"Iknowyou'reupset,butIwon't
discussituntilyoucalmdown,"or"I'dbelievewhatyouwritewereitnotforyouradolescentuseofexclamation
pointsthroughoutthetext."Oralternately,"Youseemtobetoocalmaboutthedeathofyourspouse.You'reunder
arrestforhomicide.Youhavetherighttoremainsilent..."TonePolicingisfrequentincontemporarydiscourseof
power,particularlyinresponsetodiscourseofprotest.
95.Transfer:(also,NameDropping)Acorruptargumentfromethos,falselyassociatingafamousorrespectedperson,
placeorthingwithanunrelatedstandpoint(e.g.puttingapictureoftheRev.Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.onan
advertisementformattresses,usingGenghisKhan,aMongolwhohatedChinese,asthenameofaChinese
restaurant,orusingtheTexasflagtosellcarsorpickupsthatweremadeinDetroit,KansasCityorKyoto).This
fallacyiscommonincontemporaryacademiaintheformofusingaprofusionofscholarlylookingcitationsfrom
respectedscholarstolendafalsegravitastootherwisespeciousideasortext.
(Seealso"StarPower.")
96.TuQuoque("YouDoitToo!"also,TwoWrongsMakeaRight):Acorruptargumentfromethos,thefallacyof
defendingashakyorfalsestandpointorexcusingone'sownbadactionbypointingoutthatone'sopponent'sacts,
ideologyorpersonalcharacterarealsoopentoquestion,orareperhapsevenworsethanone'sown.E.g.,"Sure,we
mayhavetorturedprisonersandkilledkidswithdrones,butwedon'tcutoffheadsoffliketheydo!"Or,"Youcan't
standthereandaccusemeofcorruption!Youguysareallintopoliticsandyouknowwhatyouhavetodotoget
reelected!"RelatedtotheRedHerringandtotheAdHominemArgument.
97.Venting(also,LettingoffSteam):IntheVentingFallacyapersonarguesthather/hiswordsareoroughttobe
exemptfromcriticismbecauses/hewas"onlyventing,"eventhoughthisveryadmissionimpliesthattheone
"venting"was,atlonglast,freelyexpressinghis/hertrue,heartfeltanduncensoredopinionaboutthematterin
question.Seealso,theAffectiveFallacy.
98.WeHavetoDoSomething:(also,thePlaceboEffect,"SecurityTheater").Thedangerouscontemporaryfallacythat
when"Peoplearescared/Peopleareangry/Peoplearefedup"itbecomesnecessarytodosomething,anything,at
onceevenifitisanoverreaction,isacompletelyineffective,inertplacebo,oractuallymakesthesituationworse,
ratherthan"justsittingtheredoingnothing."(E.g.,"Banningairpassengersfromcarryinghamsandwichesontothe
planeandmakingparentstakeofftheirnewborninfants'tinypinkbabyshoesprobablydoesnothingtodeter
potentialhijackers,butpeoplearescaredandwehavetodosomethingtorespondtothiscrisis!")Thisisabadly
corruptedargumentfrompathos.(Seealso"ScareTactic.")
99.WheretheresSmoke,theresFire(alsoHastyConclusionJumpingtoaConclusion).Thedangerousfallacyof
drawingasnapconclusionand/ortakingactionwithoutsufficientevidence.E.g.,Captain!Theguysittingnextto
meincoachhasdarkskinandiswritinginsomefunnylanguageallfullofweirdsymbolslikeand.Itmustbe
Arabic!Gethimofftheplanebeforeheblowsusalltokingdomcome!AvarietyoftheJustinCasefallacy.
Theoppositeofthisfallacyisthe"ParalysisofAnalysis."

100.TheWisdomoftheCrowd(also,TheMagicoftheMarkettheWikipediaFallacy).Averycommoncontemporary
fallacythatindividualsmaybewrongbut"thecrowd"or"themarket"isinfallible,ignoringhistoricexampleslike
witchburning,lynching,andthemarketcrashof2008.Thisfallacyiswhymostcollegesanduniversitiesban
studentsfromusingWikipediaasaseriousreferencework.
101.TheWorstNegatestheBad(also,BeGratefulforWhatYou'veGot):Thelogicalfallacythatabadsituationstops
beingbadbecauseitcouldbefarworse,orbecausesomeone,somewherehasitevenworsethanyou.E.g.,"Icried
becauseIhadnoshoes,untilIsawsomeonewhohadnofeet."Or,"You'reprotestingbecauseyouearnonly$7.25an
hour?Youcouldbeonthestreet!IhappentoknowtherearepeopleinUttarPradeshwhoaredoingtheverysame
workyou'redoingforonetenthofwhatyou'remaking,andthey'repatheticallygladjusttohaveworkatall.You
needtoshutup,putdownthatpicketsign,getbacktoworkandthankuseachandeverydayforgivingyouajob!"
102.TheWorstCaseFallacy(also,"Justincase."):Apessimisticfallacybywhichonesreasoningisbasedonan
improbable,farfetchedorevencompletelyimaginaryworstcasescenarioratherthanonreality.Thisplayson
pathos(fear)ratherthanreason.E.g.,"Whatifarmedterroristsweretoattackyourcountygrainelevatortomorrow
morningatdawn?Areyoureadytofightback?Betterstockuponassaultriflesandammunitiontoday,justin
case!"TheoppositeofthisisthePositiveThinkingFallacy.
103.ZeroTolerance(also,ZeroRiskBias,DisproportionateResponse,EvenOneisTooMany,Judenrein).The
contemporaryfallacyofdeclaringan"emergency"andpromisingtodevoteunlimitedresourcestostampouta
limitedorevennonexistentproblem.E.g.,"Ijustreadaboutanactualcaseofcannibalismsomewhereinthis
country.That'sdisgusting,andevenonecaseisway,waytoomany!WeneedaFederalTaskforceagainst
Cannibalismwithamilliondollarbudgetandofficesineverystate,anationalSCANprograminallthegrade
schools(StopCannibalisminAmericaNow!),andanautomaticdoubledeathpenaltyforcannibalsinotherwords,
zerotoleranceforcannibalisminthiscountry!"Thisisacorruptandcynicalargumentfrompathos,almostalways
politicallydriven,aparticularlysinistervarietyofthe"WeHavetodoSomething"fallacy.Seealso,"Playingon
Emotions,""RedHerring,"andalsothe"BigLieTechnique."
OW7/06withthankstothelateSusanSpence.Latestrevision7/16,withspecialthankstoBusinessInsider,to
BradleySteffens,toDanelleM.Pecht,MarcLawson,andtoallotherreaderswhosuggestedcorrections,additions
andclarifications.Thisisalivingdocument,soanysuggestionsorcritiquesarewelcome.Pleasecopyandshare
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