((( THE NATURE OF REALITY )))

[Guest]

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES:
Tell The Truth
Lie
Lie By Omission and Half-Truths
Lie With Qualifiers
Lie With Statistics
Observational Selection
The Statistics of Small Numbers
Bury The Lead
The Big Lie
Reversal Of Reality
Make a Virtue out of a Fault
Unsupported Claims
Imaginary Evidence
Use Association
The Glittering Generality
Exaggerate
Confusion of Correlation and Causation
Reverse a Cause-and-Effect Relationship
Straw Man
Hypnotic Bait and Switch
The Either/Or Technique — Bifurcation — the Excluded Middle
False Dichotomy
The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend
"Hobson's Choice"
Alternative Advance
"Somebody's got it worse"
Faulty Syllogism
Non Sequitur
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc —
"It happened after 'X', so it was caused by 'X'"
The Norm of Reciprocity
Guilt Induction
Play On Emotions, Appeal To Emotions
Ad Hominem, Launch Personal Attacks On Opponents
Engage in Name Calling
Delegitimize One's Opponent
Demonize the Enemy
Apply Labels
Stroking Ploys
Blame A Scapegoat
Blame Somebody Else (Anybody Else)
Blame A Non-Factor
Claim That There Is A Panacea
Claim That There Is A Panmalefic
Flattery
Proof by Anecdote
Double-Talk
Unprovable Statements
Undisprovable Statements
The Language Trap
Vague, Undefined, Grandiose Language
Loaded Language, Euphemisms, and Redefined Words
Use Self-Referential Definitions — Define Something In Terms Of Itself
Deception Via Mislabeling or Misnaming Things
Misuse Words
Moving The Goalposts
Set Low Expections
Sliding Adjectives
Vague Adjectives
Undefined Terms
Pseudo-intellectual Bull
Confuse With Technicalese
Simplistic Slogans
Over-simplification
Wrap Yourself In A Higher Power
Repeat Old Memes
Everybody's Doing It, Everybody Knows, and Everybody Says
Pomp, Ceremony, and Ritual
Humor and Ridicule
Assume The Major Premise
Petitio Principii, Assume Facts Not In Evidence
Hidden Assumptions
Assume Futures or Future Results
Fallacy of Presupposition
Affirmation of the Consequent
Irrelevant Conclusion (Ignoratio Elenchi)
Confusion of Beliefs with Facts
Substitute Feelings For Facts
Confusion of Abstractions with Reality
Circular Reasoning (Circulus in Demonstrando)
Appeal to Evil
Appeal to Higher Principles
Appeal to Authorities (Argumentum ad Verecundiam)
Appeal to Force (Argumentum ad Baculum)
Appeal to Popularity — Appeal to the People (Argumentum ad Populum)
Appeal to Numbers (Argumentum ad Numerum)
Dismiss by Numbers
Appeal to Averages
Appeal to Antiquity (Argumentum ad Antiquitatem)
Dismiss by Antiquity
Appeal to Novelty — Newness (Argumentum ad Novitatem)
Dismiss by Novelty
Appeal to the Exotic
Appeal to Tradition
Appeal to Poverty (Argumentum ad Lazarum)
Appeal to Wealth (Argumentum ad Crumenam)
Appeal to Common Folk
Appeal To Stupidity
Antirationalism
Appeal to Desperation
Appeal to Pity Ad Misericordiam
Exploit Wishful Thinking, and Tell Them What They Want To Hear
It Ought To Be True, So It Is.
It's Too Terrible To Tell
Argue from Adverse Consequences
Argue from Beneficial Consequences
Apply Time Pressure
The Real Scotsman Fallacy
Inverse Real Scotsman Fallacy
Inconsistency
Compare Apples To Oranges
Special Pleading
Self-Sell
Repetition for Emphasis (Argumentum ad Nauseam)
Reification
Take Undeserved Credit
Create A Granfalloon
Spin Doctoring
The Semi-Attached Figure
Use Exact Numbers
Avoid Specific Numbers
Hide Behind Others
The Preacher's We
Put Words Into Other People's Mouths
Tokenism
Testimonials and Stories
The Fallacy of One Similarity
The Fallacy of One Dissimilarity
If It Looks Like X, Then It Is X.
A Distinction Without A Difference.
Sly Suggestions
Misleading Inference
Unsubstantiated Inference and Groundless Claims
Introduce Irrelevant Information as Supporting Evidence
False Analogy
False Equality
Double Bind
Project Future From Past
False Analysis Of History
It's Never Happened Before
I Didn't See It Happen, So It Never Happened
Argue Inevitability
Pollyanna's Ploy — Unbridled Optimism
Chicken Little's Pessimism
Generalize, and the Sweeping Generality
Take Quotes Out Of Context
Argue from Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam)
Begging The Question
Meaningless Question
Blame The Victim
Claim to Have Special or Secret Knowledge
Bad Math
Use the Passive Voice
Use Slanted Language
Use Inflamatory Language


DEBATING TECHNIQUES:
Refute By Example
Refute By Exposing Contradiction
Minimization and Denial
Instant Denial
Understatement
Admit a Small Fault to Cover a Big Denial
False Comparison
Give a Non-reason Reason
Divert Attention — Change the Subject
The Positive Accomplishments Sidestep
Declare Victory
The Story Sourcing Distraction
The Drama Queen, the Prima Donna Ploy
Red Herring
The Personal Loyalty Red Herring
Deflect Criticism and Blame By Deligitimizing It
Deligitimize Criticism and Rebuttal in Advance
Spurious Delegitimization of Evidence or Criticism
Spurious Rejection of a Question
Answer A Question That Was Not Asked (To Avoid Answering One That Was Asked)
Answer a Question With A Question
Surfeit of Questions (Plurium Interrogationum)
Monopolizing the Question (Hypophora)
Obfuscate
Attack Without Appearing To Attack By Using Paralipsis or Apophasis)
Sarcasm, Condescension, and Patronizing Attitudes
Damn with Faint Praise
Reductio Ad Absurdum
Rationalize
Exchange A Term
Frame The Argument
Argue with Unrealistic Hypothetical Situations
Misrepresent Your Opponent's Position, or
Mischaracterize Your Opponent, or Mischaracterize His Statements or Questions
Nit-Pick and Split Hairs
Quibble
Hit And Run
Hifalutin' Denunciations
Make Unreasonable Demands
Make False Demands
Shift the Burden of Proof Onto Your Opponent
Double Standards
Demand an Uneven Burden of Proof
Demand Uneven Standards of Acceptance
Specious Argument
Spurious Agreement
Escape via Ignorance
Escape to the Future
Escape via Relativism
Escape via Irrationality
Pack the House
Embarrass Your Opponent
Obtuseness — Refuse to See the Point
Laugh It Off
Dominate the Conversation, Talk Non-Stop, and Interrupt Constantly
Escape via Bullying and Intimidation