Ad Hominem directed against a person’s characteristics or reputation rather than against his arguments appealing to one's prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one's intellect or reason. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ad%20hominem http://jazzroc.wordpress.com/tag/chem-trail/page/4/ Ashley, Megan, Stephanie, Calvin, Maeghann

Universal Example: Bill: "I believe that abortion is morally wrong." Dave: "Of course you would say that, you're a priest." Bill: "What about the arguments I gave to support my position?" Dave: "Those don't count. Like I said, you're a priest, so you have to say that abortion is wrong. Further, you are just a lackey to the Pope, so I can't believe what you say." http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-hominem.html

The Crucible: Cheever: He plow on Sunday, sir. Danforth: Plow on Sunday! Cheever: I think it be evidence, John. I am an official of the court, I cannot keep it. Proctor: I-I have once or twice plowed on Sunday. I have three children, sir, and until last year my land gave little. Cheever accuses John of plowing on Sunday. This has nothing to do with the fact that John is trying to protect his wife from being killed. Instead of attacking the argument John is trying to focus on, Cheever is attacking his character.

The Crucible Abigail(crying to Heaven):Oh, Heavenly Father take away this shadow! Proctor: How dare you call Heaven! Whore! Whore! Herrick: John! Proctor: It Is a whore! Danforth(dumbfounded): You charge-? Abigail: Mr. Danforth he is lying! Proctor:Mark her! Now she’ll suck a scream to stab me with, but- Danforth: You will prove this! This will not pass! Proctor:I have known her, sir. I have known her! Abigail claims to the court that she isn’t lying about the presence of witchcraft, but Procter goes against her claim with the evidence of her being a whore and can not be trusted.