Recommended Practice: Fallacies of Language Handout #2

Indicate the fallacy of language committed by each italicized and red passage:  

  1. The 1975 Golden State Warriors stormed through their championship series.  So, you should buy memorabilia for that team. 
  2. Rod: I think you should buy some 2010 San Francisco Giants memorabilia, since they were a more popular team. 
    Bob: More popular than what?   
  3. Kate: I think you should buy some 2015 Golden State Warriors memorabilia. 
    Mark: Why is that?
    Kate: When you think about it, they could be the best SF Bay Area sports team ever.    
  4. There's no question about it.  The 1994 San Francisco 49ers were the best SF Bay Area sports team ever, since they rolled over their opponents.
  5. Ted: I'm pretty sure Isabel's favorite sports team is the San Francisco Giants. 
    Roger: I don't know, she's a devoted New Yorker.  Why do you think her favorite sports team is the San Francisco Giants? 
    Ted: Just yesterday she said she likes the Giants. 
    Roger: You know there's a New York football team called the Giants, right? 
    Ted: Oh, no, I didn't.  I guess she could have meant the SF Giants or the New York Giants.
  6. I'm pretty sure Marcus is going to a hockey game, because he said he was going to a sports game. 
  7. I'm pretty sure Jake went to a San Francisco Giants game, since he said he might go to San Francisco today. 
  8. I don't think the San Jose Sharks' coach quit; for the news just said he was taking a break. 
  9. I don't think Xavier is a sports fan.  After all, he admitted he never wants to attend a sporting event. 
  10. Ray: I never liked Steve Young.
    Bill: Yeah, I know.  You don't like his politics.  But you have to admit he was a great quarterback.
    Ray: No he wasn't; for he was just another overrated lefty. 
    Bill: Meaning liberal or left handed quarterback? 
  11. Well, I think Kindergarten is the best year of school; for it's a year of wonder and wow.
  12. I know Brian thinks Fifth Grade is the best year of school; because he said his best years were during Elementary School.
  13. Well, I think 12th Grade is the best year of school.  When you think about it, it's the first year of the rest of your life.
  14. I'm telling you, Vivian doesn't hate school; for she just has some issues.
  15. Of course Marco loves school.  He said he loves it.
  16. You should send your daughter to a private school.  Otherwise, you might regret it.
  17. You should send your son to a public school.  He'll get exposed to diverse life lessons. 
  18. Rod: If you ask me, Cardinal Newman is better than some places; so you might as well go there.
    Malcolm: Better than what places? 
  19. Ginger: Well, I think you should go to Santa Rosa High School.
    Mary Ann: Why is that? 
    Ginger: Well, everybody thinks you should go there. 
  20. Kindergartener: My teacher is a fish.
    Dad: Why do you think that, Honey? 
    Kindergartener: Because he works in a school. 
  21. I think you might enjoy Idaho.  So you should go there.
  22. Well, you should try living Minnesota; for they are, "The star of the North."
  23. In New York life is just more electric.  Of course it'll be the perfect place for you to live. 
  24. I'm pretty sure Amber moved to Vermont, since she said she moved to New England.
  25. Leslie: Tad said he moved to Washington; therefore, he must be living in D.C..
    Anne: Well, that can mean Washington D.C. or the State of Washington, no?  Did he say which it was? 
    Leslie: Oh, no.  I didn't think about that. 
  26. Tanya must have moved to Mississippi.  After all, we know she moved a former Confederate state.
  27. Tyson should move to Colorado.  Even his mom said he'll enjoy it. 
  28. I'm telling you, you should move to Utah.  Life is slower there.  
  29. Baker: I need to move away.
    Cashier: I know just the place.  You should live in Alaska.  
    Baker: Why Alaska?
    Cashier: They absolutely devour bread like the world is going to end. 
    Baker: Um, okay. 
  30. Our family wasn't chased out of Oklahoma; for we were just relocated. 
  31. Vote like your life depends on it.  Reelect John Adams in 1800.
  32. A vote for Andrew Jackson is a vote for the future.  Vote for Jackson in 1824! 
  33. Henry Clay loves America; and America loves Henry Clay.  Clay in 1844. 
  34. Horatio Seymour wants to take us farther.  Seymour in 1868.
  35. A vote for Tilden is a vote to continue our Manifest Destiny.  Tilden in 1876. 
  36. Interviewer: Did you really say that Chester Arthur will dismantle the railroads if he's elected in 1880? 
    Winfield Scott Hancock: Absolutely not!  
    Interviewer: Mr. Arthur says you did.
    Winfield Scott Hancock: He's obviously wrong; for I just said he wants to end the railroads as we know them. 
    Interviewer: Well, that doesn't sound as bad; but what does that mean?  
  37. Interviewer: With all due respect, you didn't answer my question, Mr. Roosevelt.  
    Roosevelt: Of course I did; for I said I believe I have a duty to be an elected official.  
    Interviewer: Okay. But, you could run for mayor or governor or senator or any other elected office.  I asked you why you want to run for President in 1908. 
    Roosevelt: So you did.  My apologies. 
  38. Interviewer: Mr. Hoover, why should we reelect you in 1932?  
    Hoover: Because, if Roosevelt is elected, the economy might get even worse. 
  39. Interviewer: Mr. Dewey, why should voters choose you in 1948 when they didn't in 1944? 
    Dewey: Why should voters choose me?  That's simple.  For a brighter future.  
  40. Interviewer: Mr. Humphrey, what do you think will happen in the polls this 1968? 
    Humphrey: Well, to be honest, I think I'm going to lose.   
    Interviewer: Why do you think that?
    Humphrey: Well, because I wanted to run in the worst way.
    Interviewer: Wait, what did you just say? 
    Humphrey: I'm not sure. 
    Interviewer: Did you mean you really wanted to run?  Or did you mean you want to run a poor campaign? 
    Humphrey: I'm not sure. 
  41. I'm pretty sure Diamond put almond milk in her coffee, since she said she put milk in it.
  42. You shouldn't drink almond milk.  I heard almonds are virtually the most wasteful nut in the universe. 
  43. Jennifer: Did you really ban almond milk from your house? 
    Jeff: No; I just don't approve of it in my house. 
    Jennifer: Does that mean I can or can't bring it over the next time our families visit? 
  44. Join the Milk Life!  Buy milk! 
  45. I heard cow milk is fattier; so I don't think it's for me. 
  46. We should keep drinking cow milk.  Our family has been drinking it for 200 years.   
  47. It's time for something new.  So you should try soy milk.
  48. There's nothing wrong with drinking soy milk.  At last I'm not drinking rice milk. 
  49. There's nothing wrong with trying soy milk.  You tried it once.  
  50. I didn't like goat milk; so I'm pretty sure most people wouldn't.