![]() “Over 75% of Americans believe that crooked Bob Hodiak is a thief, a liar and a pervert. ![]() For example, “Whether there actually is large-scale voter fraud in America or not, many people now think there is, so it must be true.” Sometimes also includes Lying with Statistics, e.g. ![]() Bandwagon argues that because “everyone,” “the people,” or “the majority” (or someone in power who has widespread backing) supposedly thinks or does something, it must be true and right.For example “Global climate change cannot be caused by human burning of fossil fuels, because if it were, switching to non-polluting energy sources would bankrupt American industry,” or “Doctor, that’s wrong! I can’t have terminal cancer, because if I did that’d mean that I won’t live to see my kids get married!”) Argument from Consequences (also, Outcome Bias): The major fallacy of logos, arguing that something cannot be true because if it were the consequences or outcome would be unacceptable.Also applies to deluded negative Appeals to Heaven, e.g., “You say that famine and ecological collapse due to climate change are real dangers during the coming century, but I know God wouldn’t ever let that happen to us!” The opposite of the Appeal to Heaven is the Job’s Comforter fallacy. Practiced by those who will not or cannot tell God’s will from their own, this vicious (and blasphemous) fallacy has been the cause of endless bloodshed over history. See also, Moral Superiority, and Magical Thinking. (E.g., “God ordered me to kill my children,” or “We need to take away your land, since God has given it to us as our own.”) A private person who seriously asserts this fallacy risks ending up in a psychiatric ward, but groups or nations who do it are far too often taken seriously. Appeal to Heaven: (also known as American Exceptionalism, or the Special Covenant): An ancient, extremely dangerous fallacy (a deluded argument from ethos) that of claiming to know the mind of God (or History, or a higher power), who has allegedly ordered or anointed, supports or approves of one’s own country, standpoint or actions so no further justification is required and no serious challenge is possible.Labeling environmentalists as “Tree huggers, or feminists as “bra burners” or demonstrators as “rioters” when there are a dozen violent crazies in a peaceful, disciplined demonstration of thousands or tens of thousands. Ever seen a cow laugh at a Shakespeare comedy? Vegetarianism is nonsense!” Or, “Pro-choicers hate babies and want to kill them!” Or, “Pro-lifers hate women and want them to spend their lives barefoot, pregnant and chained to the kitchen stove!”Sometimes Straw Man involves labeling or name-calling. For example: “Vegetarians say animals have feelings like you and me. Straw Man: Wetting up a phony, weak, extreme or ridiculous parody of an opponent’s argument and then proceeding to knock it down or make it out as ridiculous or absurd.These are good tools while listening to arguments and help form an informed opinion. Here’s a few, along with some examples of how we might apply them in the divisiveness that is ours right now. She reminded me of some “pitfalls to avoid” that I gave freshmen composition writers for persuasive arguments. One person started a rebuttal with “That’s a straw…” before she was cut off. A couple of days ago, I heard a discussion on CNN. On top of that, the main-stream media fails to remind us of tools we learned in high school to help us sort out the good from the bad. If you have 3½ minutes to spare, here’s an NPR clip about how the Russian government uses bots. My brain began to feel like this photo.Īnd my heart began to match that feeling. The Russian interference seems so successful at sowing discord, splitting us into opinion camps, and shouting rather than listening. Not the far right (well, maybe a little,) or the snowflake liberals. And, although everyone involved in the investigation recognizes the Russians meddled in the election, it’s much bigger than that. And, I haven’t written any flash-fiction. Did you notice my lack of posts? More than two weeks passed without a blog-peep from me.
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