7 Poisoning the Well Examples Throughout Your Life

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Have you ever discredited something that someone said simply because you don’t particularly like them? Or maybe your negative opinion of that person led you to mistrust them, no matter what they’re talking about. Or, you might decide that you’re not even going to listen to the speaker before they even start to talk. We’ve … Read more

7 Survivorship Bias Examples You See in the Real World

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Whenever there’s a new “winner” among TV personalities, whether it’s an American Idol, a Survivor, an American with Talent, or someone who has overruled Big Brother, you can expect to see their face and hear their name in pop culture for at least a few weeks. However, what you won’t find is pictures of all … Read more

7 Either Or (“False Dilemma”) Fallacy Examples in Real Life

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If you’ve ever been asked if you are a Democrat or a Republican, your answer may have fallen into neither category. In fact, according to a 2018 Pew research study, 38% of those polled claimed to be Independent in their party choice, while only 31% committed to being Democrat and 26% Republican. But the original … Read more

9 Circular Reasoning Examples (or “Begging the Question”) in Everyday Life

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If you’re job hunting, you’re certainly not alone.  And if you are fresh out of college, you may be having a tough time competing in a job market with others who have extensive experience in your chosen field. This is where a major frustration comes into trying to land a job. Often, companies will say … Read more

9 Appeal to Pity Fallacy (“Ad Misericordiam”) Examples in Everyday Life

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If you’re trying to prove something is true, what is the first thing you look for? I think it’s fair that most people would say that evidence or facts is where they start when searching for the truth. But, if you can’t find any evidence, where do you go next?  You may give up and … Read more

9 Loaded Question Fallacy Examples in Life and Media

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We all make assumptions.  Making assumptions is a way to save brain power, as we can simply put patterns together of human behavior or other phenomena based on our past experiences. Doing so helps us make sense of the world as we encounter new people or situations.  And while making assumptions isn’t always a bad … Read more