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Classic Logical Fallacies

A troll is never alone. A troll is always surrounded by a warm blanket of bad reasoning.

Fallacy Reference Index

  1. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 1: Straw Man
  2. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 2: Ad Hominem
  3. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 3: False Dilemma
  4. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 4: Whataboutism
  5. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 5: Slippery Slope
  6. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 6: Appeal to Popularity
  7. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 7: Appeal to Authority
  8. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 8: Burden Shifting
  9. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 9: Circular Reasoning
  10. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 10: Cherry Picking
  11. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 11: Red Herring
  12. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 12: No True Scotsman
  13. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 13: Tu Quoque
  14. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 14: Begging the Question
  15. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 15: Hasty Generalization
  16. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 16: Anecdotal Fallacy
  17. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 17: Middle Ground Fallacy
  18. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 18: Appeal to Nature
  19. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 19: Genetic Fallacy
  20. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 20: Special Pleading
  21. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 21: Composition and Division
  22. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 22: Appeal to Emotion
  23. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 23: False Equivalence
  24. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 24: Moving the Goalposts
  25. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 25: Loaded Question
  26. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 26: Appeal to Tradition
  27. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 27: Appeal to Novelty
  28. The Troll Handbook Fallacy 28: Bandwagon by Association

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 1: Straw Man Permalink

1. Straw Man

Replace the other person's real position with a much sillier one, then triumph over the version you invented.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 2: Ad Hominem Permalink

2. Ad Hominem

Attack the person instead of the argument. It is easier than thinking and feels very decisive for several seconds.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 3: False Dilemma Permalink

3. False Dilemma

Pretend there are only two options, usually one absurd and one preferred by the troll.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 4: Whataboutism Permalink

4. Whataboutism

When criticism becomes uncomfortable, redirect attention elsewhere and call that a rebuttal.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 5: Slippery Slope Permalink

5. Slippery Slope

Insist that a modest step will inevitably lead to total collapse, chaos, tyranny, or snacks being outlawed.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 6: Appeal to Popularity Permalink

6. Appeal to Popularity

If lots of people believe it, claim that makes it true. By this standard, bad chain emails would be sacred texts.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 7: Appeal to Authority Permalink

7. Appeal to Authority

Quote a confident person, even if they are outside their expertise, and treat that as the end of the matter.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 8: Burden Shifting Permalink

8. Burden Shifting

Make a shaky claim and then insist everyone else must disprove it for you.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 9: Circular Reasoning Permalink

9. Circular Reasoning

Your conclusion is true because your premise says so, and your premise is true because your conclusion says so. Efficient, if not useful.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 10: Cherry Picking Permalink

10. Cherry Picking

Ignore the full body of evidence and cling to the one scrap that flatters your position.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 11: Red Herring Permalink

11. Red Herring

Introduce a distracting side issue and act as though it was the real topic all along.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 12: No True Scotsman Permalink

12. No True Scotsman

When a counterexample appears, redefine the category so the counterexample no longer counts.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 13: Tu Quoque Permalink

13. Tu Quoque

Respond to criticism by accusing the other person of inconsistency, as if that settles the original issue.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 14: Begging the Question Permalink

14. Begging the Question

Smuggle the conclusion into the premise and then admire how inevitable the conclusion now seems.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 15: Hasty Generalization Permalink

15. Hasty Generalization

Observe one or two examples and immediately draw a grand universal rule from them.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 16: Anecdotal Fallacy Permalink

16. Anecdotal Fallacy

Prefer one vivid story over mountains of broader evidence because it feels better that way.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 17: Middle Ground Fallacy Permalink

17. Middle Ground Fallacy

Assume the truth must be halfway between two positions, even when one of those positions is nonsense.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 18: Appeal to Nature Permalink

18. Appeal to Nature

Claim something is good because it is "natural" or bad because it is not, with no further effort.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 19: Genetic Fallacy Permalink

19. Genetic Fallacy

Judge a claim entirely by its source or origin instead of its actual merits.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 20: Special Pleading Permalink

20. Special Pleading

Demand rigorous standards for everyone else while quietly exempting your own side from them.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 21: Composition and Division Permalink

21. Composition and Division

Assume what is true of one part must be true of the whole, or what is true of the whole must be true of every part.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 22: Appeal to Emotion Permalink

22. Appeal to Emotion

Substitute outrage, pity, fear, or disgust for an argument and hope nobody notices the switch.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 23: False Equivalence Permalink

23. False Equivalence

Treat two things as basically the same because precision would be inconvenient.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 24: Moving the Goalposts Permalink

24. Moving the Goalposts

Once evidence appears, change the standard of proof so that success remains permanently out of reach.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 25: Loaded Question Permalink

25. Loaded Question

Ask a question that smuggles in an accusation, then act shocked when people object to the framing.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 26: Appeal to Tradition Permalink

26. Appeal to Tradition

Insist something should continue simply because it has been around a long time.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 27: Appeal to Novelty Permalink

27. Appeal to Novelty

Claim the new thing must be better merely because it is new.

The Troll Handbook Fallacy 28: Bandwagon by Association Permalink

28. Bandwagon by Association

Attach a position to a tribe, trend, or identity and imply that disagreement is social betrayal.