FALLACY FEUDFALLACY FEUD• safe• non-toxic• fun for all ages

If we attacked Iraq because we thought Saddam If we attacked Iraq because we thought Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons, then the U.S. should Hussein had nuclear weapons, then the U.S. should also invade Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Israel, and also invade Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Israel, and South Africa.South Africa.

A. appeal to extremesB. non-sequiturC. post hocD. sweeping generalizationE. faulty sign

I’m going to wash my car. That way I know it I’m going to wash my car. That way I know it will rain.will rain.

A. post hocB. slippery slopeC. hasty generalizationD. equivocation

If the government can ban smoking, what’s If the government can ban smoking, what’s next? Will they ban hang-gliding, or bungee next? Will they ban hang-gliding, or bungee jumping too? Will they ban overweight people jumping too? Will they ban overweight people from eating Hostess Twinkies and Ding Dongs?from eating Hostess Twinkies and Ding Dongs?

A. post hocB. slippery slopeC. equivocationD. false dilemma

Naomi drives a hybrid car, so she is undoubtedly Naomi drives a hybrid car, so she is undoubtedly an environmentalist.an environmentalist.A. faulty signB. faulty causeC. tautology (circular reasoning)D. tu quo queE. slippery slope

Capital punishment should be abolished in favor Capital punishment should be abolished in favor of intensive efforts aimed at rehabilitation. of intensive efforts aimed at rehabilitation. After all, a dog who bites once shouldn't be put After all, a dog who bites once shouldn't be put to sleep, the dog should be sent to obedience to sleep, the dog should be sent to obedience school.school.

A. hasty generalizationB. sweeping generalizationC. faulty analogyD. begging the question

Ernie makes a new year’s resolution to Ernie makes a new year’s resolution to exercise every morning. When his wife exercise every morning. When his wife notices him reading the newspaper the next notices him reading the newspaper the next morning, she asks why he isn’t exercising. morning, she asks why he isn’t exercising. “I’m exercising my mind right now,” he “I’m exercising my mind right now,” he replies.replies.A. sweeping generalizationB. non sequiturC. equivocationD. to quo que

Ms. Farnsworth, a 3rd grade teacher, can’t Ms. Farnsworth, a 3rd grade teacher, can’t believe Biff did so well on his math test. believe Biff did so well on his math test. “Which student’s paper did you look at?” she “Which student’s paper did you look at?” she asks him.asks him.

A. equivocationB. begging the questionC. straw manD. sweeping generalization

Babbs got a laptop computer last fall and her Babbs got a laptop computer last fall and her grades went up. I think I’ll get a laptop too.grades went up. I think I’ll get a laptop too.

A. hasty generalizationB. post hoc (faulty cause)C. begging the questionD. straw man

Mom: We’re having turkey for Mom: We’re having turkey for Thanksgiving, because that’s what the Thanksgiving, because that’s what the pilgrims and Indians had.pilgrims and Indians had.Child: Yeah, but the pilgrims also had Child: Yeah, but the pilgrims also had smallpox and it killed most of the Indians. smallpox and it killed most of the Indians. Let’s have pizza instead.Let’s have pizza instead.The child’s argument is:The child’s argument is:

A. equivocationB. begging the questionC. non-sequiturD. tautology

Fallacy FeudFallacy Feud

Round Deux

Fifi has just tried a new cleaning product called Fifi has just tried a new cleaning product called Amazo Clean. “It worked great on my windows Amazo Clean. “It worked great on my windows and my stainless steel countertop,” she says, “so and my stainless steel countertop,” she says, “so it will probably work well on my leather couch it will probably work well on my leather couch too!”too!”

A. begging the questionB. appeal to the crowdC. appeal to authorityD. hasty generalization

Mom to son, “I’m not buying you a ‘Spider Mom to son, “I’m not buying you a ‘Spider Man’ lunch pail. If a brown paper bag was Man’ lunch pail. If a brown paper bag was good enough for me when I was a kid, it’s good enough for me when I was a kid, it’s good enough for you.”good enough for you.”

A. faulty analogyB. faulty signC. red herringD. appeal to traditionE. inconsistency

If Bush had sent more troops to Iraq to begin If Bush had sent more troops to Iraq to begin with, the country would be stabilized and with, the country would be stabilized and peaceful by now.peaceful by now.

A. inconsistencyB. ad hominemC. hypothesis contrary to factD. appeal to the crowd

A burglar is caught in the act of burglarizing a A burglar is caught in the act of burglarizing a home. He tells the police, “Hey, its a good thing I home. He tells the police, “Hey, its a good thing I was here. They left the iron on, which could have was here. They left the iron on, which could have burned the whole house down.”burned the whole house down.”

A. red herringB. appeal to ignoranceC. faulty signD. sweeping generalization

Traffic court defendant: Judge, the sign said Traffic court defendant: Judge, the sign said “fine for parking here,” so I figured it was “fine for parking here,” so I figured it was O.K. to park there.O.K. to park there.Judge: Good thing it didn’t say “tear across Judge: Good thing it didn’t say “tear across dotted line.”dotted line.”

A. equivocationB. appeal to authorityC. tu quo queD. bifurcation

Biff played soccer at Damien high school, and Biff played soccer at Damien high school, and they were the best team in their league. So you they were the best team in their league. So you can bet Biff is a pretty good soccer player.”can bet Biff is a pretty good soccer player.”

A. bifurcationB. sweeping generalizationC. appeal to the crowdD. straw man

Quexotl, an Aztec warrior, tells his chief, “Since Quexotl, an Aztec warrior, tells his chief, “Since we started sacrificing virgins the volcano god has we started sacrificing virgins the volcano god has been very happy. There hasn’t been a single been very happy. There hasn’t been a single eruption.”eruption.”

A. slippery slopeB. post hoc (faulty cause)C. false dilemmaD. hypothesis contrary to fact

If you have a passenger side airbag, a child If you have a passenger side airbag, a child can get killed. It you don’t have one, an adult can get killed. It you don’t have one, an adult can get killed. You can’t win.can get killed. You can’t win.

A. post hocB. appealing to extremesC. false dilemmaD. appeal to authority

The NRA is opposed to just about every form of The NRA is opposed to just about every form of gun control. I suppose they’d get mad if Bush gun control. I suppose they’d get mad if Bush tried to stop North Korea from selling nuclear tried to stop North Korea from selling nuclear weapons to Iran.weapons to Iran.

A. post hoc (faulty cause)B. appealing to extremes C. begging the questionD. tautology

Biff: “Homosexuality is wrong. The Bible says Biff: “Homosexuality is wrong. The Bible says so.”so.”Rex: “Yeah, but the Bible also says we should Rex: “Yeah, but the Bible also says we should stone adulterers.”stone adulterers.”Biff: “That part doesn’t apply nowadays.”Biff: “That part doesn’t apply nowadays.”

A. post hoc (faulty cause)B. faulty signC. straw manD. inconsistency

Fallacy FeudFallacy Feud

Round the Third

JunoJuno is a great movie. It won an Oscar for is a great movie. It won an Oscar for best screenplay and was nominated for three best screenplay and was nominated for three other Oscars.other Oscars.A. equivocationB. false dilemmaC. appeal to traditionD. appeal to authority

Proposition 409 is backed by oil companies, so you Proposition 409 is backed by oil companies, so you know it has to be bad for consumers.know it has to be bad for consumers.

A. faulty analogyB. ad hominemC. appeal to ignoranceD. straw man

Timmy to his teacher: “Mrs. Boswell you Timmy to his teacher: “Mrs. Boswell you wouldn’t punish me for something I didn’t do wouldn’t punish me for something I didn’t do would you?”would you?”Mrs. Boswell, “Why no Timmy, of course not.”Mrs. Boswell, “Why no Timmy, of course not.”Timmy: “Good, because I didn’t do my Timmy: “Good, because I didn’t do my homework last night.”homework last night.”

A. sweeping generalizationB. non sequiturC. equivocationD. to quo que

Southerners tend to be bigoted, and Biff is from Southerners tend to be bigoted, and Biff is from Alabama, so Biff is probably a bigot.Alabama, so Biff is probably a bigot.

A. appeal to ignoranceB. tu quo queC. sweeping generalizationD. hasty generalization

A corporate CEO tells a representative from the A corporate CEO tells a representative from the A.C.L.U. "Let me assure you, there's no sexual A.C.L.U. "Let me assure you, there's no sexual harassment going on in our workplace. We have harassment going on in our workplace. We have over 300 female employees and not one has filed a over 300 female employees and not one has filed a grievance."grievance."

A. red herringB. faulty analogyC. appeal to ignoranceD. post hoc

Biff Sr: "I want you to share that candy bar with Biff Sr: "I want you to share that candy bar with your little brother, Rex." "your little brother, Rex." "Biff Jr: O.K., but when I had measles last Biff Jr: O.K., but when I had measles last month, you didn't want me to share them with month, you didn't want me to share them with Rex."Rex."

A. faulty analogyB. appeal to ignoranceC. slippery slopeD. bifurcation