Or: how to win the internets Informal Fallacies Or: how to win the internets

Remember: there is no absolute true or false Remember: there is no absolute true or false. This does not mean, however, that all arguments are equal.

An Informal Fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that makes an argument’s conclusion unconvincing. Pointing these out on the internet leads to hilarious results. Having these pointed out in your own arguments on the internet leads to having a sad. Wut is it?

There are too many to list. Sry. Kk, tell them to me

There are, however, a few important ones that we should know. It isn’t important to memorize these, but it is important to know them when you see them—in other arguments as well as in your own!

Plain and simple: attacking a person instead of his or her argument This is a favorite on the internet—both using it and pointing it out. When you use this, you look cool and smart (ethos!) because hey, latin! …but make sure you’re using it correctly. Ad hominem

Yay, more Latin! Also known as: the Bandwagon Appeal Ad populum

Appeal to ignorance This is a refusal to accept the burden of proof. Conspiracy theories! Appeal to ignorance

Appeal to force / reward This is a favorite among parents! Also, the foreign policy of the United States. “If you do/do not accept ____, I will/will not _____.” Appeal to force / reward

Stating something as true that assumes the question being argued has already been answered Begging the question

Loaded question This one is fun, if you want to have a trololol Phrasing the question so that a person cannot answer yes or no without getting into trouble Loaded question

Creating false needs This is actually called marketing. In short, this is making the listener believe that they need something—but they don’t. Creating false needs

Dicto simpliciter Latin FTW! Basically, this is oversimplifying things by generalizing something that is true in a simple situation into a complex situation where it isn’t necessarily so Dicto simpliciter

equivocation More lulz This is giving the appearance of truth to a flat out lie equivocation

Simply put: making bad comparisons False analogy

Posing a situation as binary when really there are a multitude of options Another favorite of parents False dilemma

This is drawing a conclusion from insufficient evidence Hasty generalization

Non sequitur Latin latin latin “it does not follow” This is finding a relationship between to facts that does not actually exist Again, conspiracy theorists love doing this. Non sequitur

This is posing an argument in such a way that a critic will look immoral or dishonest if she disagrees Politicians love doing this Poisoning the well

Saying that taking one step will necessarily lead to disastrous consequences Another popular one in politics Slippery slope

Straw man This is an internet favorite It involves attacking an argument similar to, but weaker than, the one in question Straw man

This involves drawing attention away from the problem at hand by pointing out other, usually worse problems abroad Two wrongs make a right