Ten Fallacies That Fall Over Themselves
Crafted fallacies explained by committing the fallacy – irony included!
Spotting a fallacy in someone else’s argument feels like winning a small prize. You get that little jolt of satisfaction — aha, I’ve outsmarted you. But here’s the catch: the person calling it out often falls straight into a trap of their own. So, let’s have some fun. Here are ten common fallacies, each explained by committing the very same mistake. A hall of mirrors, if you like — because nothing says clarity quite like a list that undermines itself.
1. Whataboutism
Whataboutism is terrible — but what about when you do it?
2. Ad Hominem
Ad hominem is weak, and only an idiot would rely on it.
3. Strawman
The strawman fallacy is when your opponent claims all arguments are just made of straw and easily burned to ashes.
4. Slippery Slope
If you use the slippery slope fallacy once, it will inevitably lead to you using it forever, until society collapses.
5. Circular Reasoning
Circular reasoning is bad because circular reasoning is bad.
6. Appeal to Authority
The best way to understand appeal to authority is to trust me — I’m an authority on it.
7. False Equivalence
False equivalence is exactly the same as not understanding what false equivalence is.
8. Red Herring
Red herrings are misleading… but let’s talk about how delicious herring is, especially pickled.
9. Appeal to Popularity (Bandwagon)
Everyone agrees that appeal to popularity is a logical fallacy, which proves it’s true.
10. Begging the Question
Begging the question is flawed, because it assumes what it’s trying to prove. Obviously it’s flawed — because it begs the question.
Fallacies are fun to call out — almost too fun. They can become little rhetorical trophies, waved around as if shouting “fallacy!” is the end of the discussion. But here’s the twist: sometimes pointing to a fallacy is itself a fallacy. It’s turtles, all the way down. So maybe the real trick is this: use the word fallacy carefully, not as a hammer to end the conversation, but as a reminder that we’re all a little more wobbly than we like to admit.
Your turn: what’s your favourite fallacy to spot, misuse, or secretly love? Mine is definitely No True Scotsman — and only a true fallacy spotter (or scooter) would know this.