How to Coach Yourself and Others Beware of Manipulation | Page 65

do or die.") Related to this is the "Just a Job" fallacy. (E.g., "How can torturers stand to look at
themselves in the mirror? But, I guess it's OK because for them it's just a job like any other.") (See
also "Blind Loyalty," "Argument from Inertia.")
Guilt by Association
The fallacy of trying to refute or condemn someone's standpoint, arguments or actions by evoking the
negative ethos of those with whom one associates or a collective to which he or she belongs. A form of
Ad Hominem Argument. (E.g., "Don't listen to her. She's a Republican, so you can't trust anything she
says.") See also "They're Not Like Us."
The Half Truth (also Card Stacking, Incomplete Information)
A corrupt argument from logos, the fallacy of telling the truth but deliberately omitting important key
details in order to falsify the larger picture and support a false conclusion (e.g. “The truth is that
Ciudad Juárez, Mexico is one of the world's fastest growing cities and can boast of a young, ambitious
and hard-working population, mild winters, a dry and sunny climate, low cost medical and dental care,
a multitude of churches and places of worship, delicious local cuisine and a swinging nightclub scene.
Taken together, all these facts clearly prove that Juarez is one of the world’s most desirable places for
young families to live, work and raise a family.”)
I Wish I Had a Magic Wand
The fallacy of regretfully (and falsely) proclaiming oneself powerless to change a bad or objectionable
situation, because there is no alternative. E.g., "What can we do about high gas prices? As Secretary of
Energy I wish I had a magic wand, but I don't." [shrug] Or, "No, you can't quit piano lessons. I wish I
had a magic wand and could teach you piano overnight, but I don't, so like it or not, you have to keep
on practicing." The parent, of course, ignores the possibility that the child may not want or need to
learn piano. See also, TINA.
Just in Case
A fallacy by which one’s argument is based on a far-fetched or imaginary worst-case scenario rather
than on reality. Plays on pathos (fear) rather than reason. E.g., "What if armed terrorists were to attack
your own neighborhood day-care center tomorrow morning? Are you ready to fight back? Better stock
up on assault rifles!"
Lying with Statistics
Using true figures and numbers to “prove” unrelated claims. (e.g. "Gas prices have never been lower.
When taken as a percentage of the national debt, filling up at your corner gas station is actually far
cheaper today than it was in 1965!"). A corrupted argument g&