Logical fallacies, spotted

The bad moves behind weak arguments, from straw men to slippery slopes, with everyday examples you'll start noticing everywhere.

Straw man

Arguing against a twisted, weaker version of what someone said, instead of what they actually said.

False dilemma

Offering only two options when more exist. "You're either with us or against us."

Ad hominem

Attacking the person making an argument instead of the argument itself.

Slippery slope

Claiming one small step will set off a chain of extreme results, without showing why it would.

Whataboutism

Answering criticism by pointing at someone else's wrongdoing, instead of addressing it.

Moving the goalposts

Changing what counts as proof once the first bar has been met.

Appeal to authority

Treating a claim as true because someone important said it, even when it's outside what they know.

Circular reasoning

Using the conclusion as its own evidence. "It's true because it says it's true."

"She wants fewer police patrols, so she wants crime to run wild." Which fallacy is this?

"Everyone at school has this phone, so it must be the best one." Which fallacy is this?

"I wore my lucky socks and we won. The socks work." Which fallacy is this?

"Let students retake one test and soon nobody will study at all." Which fallacy?

"Why listen to her views on the budget? She failed maths at school." Which fallacy is this?

Asked about a broken promise, a politician brings up a rival's scandal. Which fallacy?

"I met two rude people from that town, so people there are rude." Which fallacy is this?

"Either we ban cars downtown or the city will choke on traffic." Which fallacy is this?