Fallacies in debates

An attempt to redirect a conversation away from its original topic by introducing an irrelevant piece of information that distracts the speaker or listener

Example:

“We shouldn't worry about climate change—what about all the people who are unemployed?”

• Slippery slope

• Red herring

• Ad hominem

• Straw man

Attacking the person instead of their argument.

Example: "You can’t trust her opinion on education—she didn’t even finish college!"

• Straw man

• Ad hominem

• Circular Reasoning

• Slippery slope

Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to refute and respond.

Example: "You want better public transport? So you want to ban all cars!"

• Gish galloping

• AD populum

• Red herring

• Straw man

The argument repeats itself as proof.

Example: "He’s a great leader because he leads well."

• Hasty generalization

• Circular reasoning

• Ad hominem

• Red herring

Claiming that one small step will lead to extreme consequences without proof.

Example:
"If we accept one late homework, soon no one will respect deadlines."."

• Circular reasoning

• Slippery slope

• Red herring

• False dilemma

Making a broad conclusion based on too little evidence.

Example: "I met two rude people from that city, so everyone there must be rude."

• Hasty generalization

• False dilemma

• Red herring

• Ad populum

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Example: "You either support this policy or you hate progress."

• Straw man

• False dilemma

• Hasty generalization

• Slippery slope

Overloading your opponent with too many weak points at once to make it hard to respond.

Example:

“In just one minute: Vaccines are dangerous, the government lies, the media is biased, climate change is fake, and history books are wrong!”

• Straw man

• Slippery slope

• Hasty generalization

• Gish galloping