Goalposts.
Where
did they
go?
Where we focus
the game
to even score?
Weren't they
over there?
Where?
Over there.
There,
between the sidelines,
at the end,
by the...
who's that?
A doctor?
She says
she's a doctor.
But I don't think
she's a real one.
Just plays one
in the media.
Wait,
what was
my point?
Again?
I feel as if
I were
a straw man
unraveling
in the wind.
Victim to an
argument
I never made.
What time is it?
I'm thirsty.
I need water.
I need
to get to
the well,
but the slope
is so slippery.
One step
I'm tumbling down
down to the bottom.
They said so.
Everyone said so.
Besides,
didn't I hear
that water
in the well
has been poisoned
by that fish,
that red fish,
flopping around
against
the walls.
What time is it?
That voice,
so sure.
Authority
dripping
from every word.
But why?
Did anyone ask why?
My thoughts,
hasty,
haughty conclusions.
One bad day
means a whole night
like this?
No.
What time is it?
That glint
a distraction.
Unreal
Just shiny
shiny lies.
Where were
those goalposts?
Why won't they
ever
stay still?
What time?
Is it
Time
Wake up
Spot the Sneaky Logic!
Logical fallacies are like magic tricks for arguments—they look convincing on the surface, but they’re actually clever deceptions designed to distract or mislead you. Recognizing them is a superpower for clear thinking! Whether you’re arguing with a friend, reading the news, or just trying to make sense of your own swirling thoughts, spotting these faulty patterns helps you get to the real truth and build stronger arguments of your own. They’re everywhere once you know what to look for!
The Fallacies in Play:
Shifting the Goalposts (Moving the Goalposts):
What it is: This happens when someone changes the criteria for success or agreement in the middle of an argument, making it impossible for the other side to ever “win.” It’s like moving the football goalposts after the kicker has already aimed!
Example: You complete all tasks your boss assigned, and when you ask for your bonus, they say, “Well, I also need you to redesign the entire website before you qualify.”
Appeal to False Authority (or Appeal to Unqualified Authority):
What it is: This fallacy occurs when someone uses the opinion of a person who isn’t an expert in the field being discussed, or whose expertise is exaggerated or irrelevant. Just because someone is famous or confident doesn’t mean they’re right about everything!
Example: A popular actor promotes a specific brand of organic fertilizer, claiming it will triple your crop yield, even though they have no background in agriculture.
What it is: This is when someone misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack. Instead of tackling the real argument, they set up a flimsy, distorted version of it (a “straw man”) and then easily knock it down.
Example: After you argue for stricter recycling laws, your friend responds, “So you want to completely destroy the packaging industry and put millions out of work just for a few plastic bottles?” (You never said that.)
Slippery Slope:
What it is: This fallacy claims that a single, usually minor, action will inevitably lead to a series of increasingly terrible and extreme consequences, without providing sufficient evidence for each step.
Example: “If we let students use their phones in class, soon they’ll be bringing laptops, then tablets, then nobody will ever pay attention or learn anything, and grades will plummet nationwide!”
Bandwagon (Appeal to Popularity or Ad Populum):
What it is: This fallacy argues that a claim must be true because a lot of people believe it or are doing it. Popularity doesn’t equal correctness!
Example: “Everyone is buying these new sneakers, so they must be the best and most comfortable ones on the market.”
Poisoning the Well:
What it is: This is a preemptive attack on the credibility of an opponent or their argument before they’ve even had a chance to present it. It taints the audience’s perception of the person or idea from the start.
Example: Before a new political candidate speaks, their opponent tells the audience, “Don’t listen to anything she says; she’s clearly just a pawn for big corporations.”
Red Herring:
What it is: This fallacy introduces an irrelevant topic into an argument to distract from the original issue. It’s like throwing a smelly fish to distract hunting dogs from the trail.
Example: When asked by their parent why they didn’t do their homework, a child complains, “But I helped you with the dishes yesterday!”
Hasty Generalization:
What it is: This occurs when someone draws a broad conclusion based on a very small, unrepresentative, or insufficient sample of evidence.
Example: “My grandmother tried that new health supplement and felt great for a day, so it must be effective for everyone.”
