Disclaimer: This text belongs to:
Adams, Scott. The Joy of Work. 1998 Harper Collins, New York, NY. Pp 152-156
The segment is called "You Are Wrong Because..."
I saw this on one of my other message boards and thought it would be something interesting to post. I didn't know which section to post it in, so I did it in OT. Feel free to move it to another section, maybe even sticky it if it's good enough.
You are wrong because:
1. Amazingly Bad Analogy:
Example: You can train a dog to fetch a stick, therefore you can train a potato to dance
2. Faulty Cause and Effect:
Example: On the basis of my observations, wearing huge pants makes you fat.
3. I Am the World:
Example: I don't listen to country music. Therefore, country music isn't popular.
4. Ignoring Everything Science Knows About the Brain:
Example: People choose to be obese/gay/alcoholic because they prefer the lifestyle.
5. The Few Are The Same As The Whole:
Example: Some Elbonians are animal rights activists. Some Elbonians wear fur coats. Therefore, Elbonians are hypocrites.
6. Generalizing From Self:
Example: I'm a liar. Therefore, I don't believe what you're saying.
7. Argument By Bizarre Definition:
Example: He's not a criminal. He just does things that are against the law.
8. Total Logical Disconnect:
Example: I enjoy pasta because my house is made out of bricks.
9. Judging Things Without Comparison To Alternatives:
Example: I don't invest in U.S. Treasury Bills. There's too much risk.
10. Anything You Don't Understand Is Easy To Do:
Example: If you have the right tools, how hard can it be to generate nuclear fission at home?
11. Ignorance Of All Statistics:
Example: I'm putting all my money in the lottery this week because the jackpot is so big.
12. Ignoring the Downside Risk:
Example: I know that bungee jumping could kill me, but it's three seconds of great fun!
13. Substituting Famous Quotes For Common Sense:
Example: Remember, "All things come to those who wait." So don't bother looking for a job.
14. Irrelevant Comparisons:
Example: A hundred dollars is a good price for a toaster, compared to buying a Ferrari.
15. Circular Reasoning:
Example: I'm correct because I'm smarter than you. And I must be smarter than you because I'm correct.
16. Incompleteness As Proof Of Defect:
Example: Your theory of gravity doesn't explain why there are no unicorns, therefore it must be wrong.
17. Ignoring the Advice of Experts Without a Good Reason:
Example: Sure, the experts think you shouldn't ride your bicycle into the eye of a hurricane, but I have my own theory.
18. Following the Advice of Known Idiots:
Example: Uncle Billy says pork makes you smarter. That's good enough for me.
19. Reaching Bizarre Conclusions Without Any Information:
Example: The car won't start. I'm certain the spark plugs have been stolen by rogue clowns.
20. Faulty Pattern Recognition:
Example: His last six wives were murdered mysteriously. I hope to be wife number seven.
21. Failure to Recognize What's Important:
Example: My house is on fire! Quick, call the post office and tell them to hold my mail!
22. Unclear on the Concept of Sunk Costs:
Example: We've spent millions in developing a water-powered pogo-stick. We can't stop investing now, or it will all be wasted!
23. Overapplication of Occam's Razor(which states that the simplest explanation is usually right):
Example: The simplest explanation for the moon landings is that they were hoaxes.
24. Ignoring All Anecdotal Evidence:
Example: I always get hives after eating strawberries. But without a scientifically controlled experiment, it's not reliable data. So I continue to eat strawberries everyday, since I can't tell that they cause hives.
25. Inability to Understand that Some Things Have Multiple Causes:
Example: The Beatles were popular for only one reason: They were good singers.
By: The_Kopper.
You are wrong in a debate because...
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This list was published in a Dilbert book. A mod really ought to add the proper credit, just to cover Mike's ass.
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Adams, Scott. The Joy of Work. 1998 Harper Collins, New York, NY. Pp 152-156
The segment is called "You Are Wrong Because..."
The segment is called "You Are Wrong Because..."
Any city gets what it admires, will pay for, and, ultimately, deserves…We want and deserve tin-can architecture in a tinhorn culture. And we will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed.--Ada Louise Huxtable, "Farewell to Penn Station", New York Times editorial, 30 October 1963
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I knew I read it somewhere else. I'm saving it anyway, lost that book ages ago.RedImperator wrote:Adams, Scott. The Joy of Work. 1998 Harper Collins, New York, NY. Pp 152-156
The segment is called "You Are Wrong Because..."
Great list though, Adams truly is a master when it comes to this stuff, just doing a summer job at my dad's workplace shows how he's right.
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I remember reading that years ago. It's mostly a list of common logical fallacies, but the unusually energetic examples are what really make it great.
FYI, the list was specifically written to be used against people who thought that "anything written down in a book must be true."
FYI, the list was specifically written to be used against people who thought that "anything written down in a book must be true."
Don't hate; appreciate!
RIP Eddie.
RIP Eddie.