Recommended Practice: Fallacies of Relevance Handout #2

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

1) Mom: Of course abortion should be illegal. I know your father said it should be legal; but he’s just a liberal wacko.

2) Mom: It’s okay if you get an abortion. I know your father is going to say you shouldn’t, but remember he’s just a man.

3) Student: Of course abortion should be illegal. You’re just saying it should be legal because you want a good grade in class and think that will help.

4) Nate- Abortion should be legal to protect a mother’s health.

Katie- Of course abortion should be illegal. If you had your way, governments would have to provide everyone free abortions.

Nate- I didn’t say that.

5) Student #1: You shouldn’t get an abortion.

Student #2: I don’t see what’s wrong with it. You got one.

6) Abortion should be legal. It’s better than raising a child in poverty.

7) There’s nothing wrong with abortion. People have been aborting babies for hundreds of years.

8) There’s nothing wrong with abortion. The doctors use the newest instruments and methods.

9) It’s okay to have one abortion. Everyone does it.

10) Of course abortion should be legal. Most people think so.

11) Sarah: We should go to a movie.

Paul: No we shouldn’t. The only reason you’re saying that is you don’t want to talk about our relationship.

12) Sarah: Let's play chess.

Dan: No.

Sarah: I know Paul is going to say you should play checkers; but don’t listen to him. He doesn't even know how to play chess.

Dan: So?

13) You should try playing Minecraft. Everyone says so.

14) You should walk in the rain with us. I always walk in the rain.

15) You should go on vacation with my parents. You’ve never tried that.

16) You should vacation at Yosemite. It's America's park.

17) You should donate money to charity instead of going on vacation. Everyone is doing it.

18) I don’t think there's anything wrong with going on vacation instead of donating the money to charity. It’s not like I’m committing a crime or something.

19) Sarah: You shouldn’t go on vacation. There are poor people who can use that money.

Dan: Oh Please. I don’t see what’s wrong with it. You went on a vacation just last year.

20) You should hike Mt. Tam. It has great views.

21) Bart: I think we shouldn’t get a dog.

Betty: Of course we should. You’re saying that only because you’re a cat person.

Bart: So?

22) Bart: I think we shouldn’t get a dog.

Betty: Of course we should. Everyone thinks so.

23) Bart: You shouldn’t get a dog.

Betty: You got one. So I don’t see what’s wrong with me getting one.

24) Bart: You shouldn’t get a dog.

Betty: My son has never had a pet. So, I think it’s okay if I get a dog.

25) Bart: You shouldn’t have got a pit bull.

Betty: My neighbor got one. So, I think it’s okay if I get one.

26) Bart: You shouldn’t have got a pit bull.

Betty: I disagree. It’s not like I got a wolf.

27) Bart: You shouldn’t get a pit bull. They’re dangerous.

Betty: Oh, that’s just liberal propaganda. Let’s get one.

28) Betty: I know you’re going to say pit bills aren’t dangerous; but that’s

just conservative propaganda. So I say it’s time to get one.

Bart: And that’s just liberal propaganda.

29) Bart: We shouldn’t get a Springer Spaniel.

Betty: Oh, let’s get one. Our family has a long history of owning hunting dogs.

30) Betty: I shouldn’t get a male Cairn Terrier. I live alone, leave each day by 6am and return after 9pm, and have no yard.

31) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with impulse shopping; since it’s not like I’m using the money to hurt anyone.

32) Come on, what’s wrong with impulse shopping? It’s not a big deal. Almost everyone does it a little.

33) Gorge: Did you really buy an iPhone with some of the money we’d saved for school?

Monica: Yeah. So? I don’t see what’s wrong with that. You once used school money for something else.

Gorge: Well, I used some school money to pay for a visit to the Emergency Room; but, even if it was for something trivial, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to do the same.

34) Wesley: Do you really need to buy another iPhone?

Donna: I don’t need to buy it. But it makes sense. It’s got all of the newest apps; and I mean all of them!

35) We’ve been friends for six years; and you’ve never bought an iPhone; so, if you ask me, it’s time for you to get one.

36) I know you’re going to say college students shouldn’t buy luxury items if it means they have to work more hours and take fewer classes; but that’s just because you want to keep your job. So I don’t see what’s wrong with students doing that.

37) Chad: I just think you shouldn’t buy another electronic device.

Hector: Of course you don’t think I should. You’re a technophobe. So I don’t see what’s wrong with buying another electronic device.

38) Baby: I just think you shouldn’t buy a new iPhone when your old one works fine.

Dog: And I disagree, because you obviously think electronics are unnecessary.

39) Baby: I just think you shouldn’t buy a new iPhone.

Dog: Why?

Baby: Your old one works fine.

40) Baby: I just think you shouldn’t buy a new iPhone.

Dog: Why?

Baby: You won't use it.

41) It’s the gum everybody is talking about! Get Ted’s!

42) Try our new flavors. Ted’s gum!

43) Taste the difference 100 years of experience makes. Ted’s gum!

44) One stick has 20% of your daily amount of vitamin C. Buy Ted's!

45) It’s the longer lasting gum. Get Ted’s!

46) Gum isn’t bad for me. The only reason you’re saying it’s bad is you want me to spend my money on you.

47) Ted: There’s nothing wrong with chewing gum. It’s not harmful.

Mary: Don’t be convinced by Ted’s argument. He obviously thinks gum is nutritional.

Jane: That’s not what he said.

48) I know you don’t want me to buy some gum; but I think it’s okay. I haven’t had any in a long time. Besides, I come from a long line of gum chewers going back to my Great Grandpa Wrigley.

49) Dad, I know you’re going to say I should save my money instead of buying gum; but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. It’s not like I’m spending $100 on it. Besides, everyone at school chews gum.

50) Once your child turns 10 years old, it would be good to save $200 a month for college. For you'll save almost $20,000; and that allows your child to pay for the first semester of her or his college, which increases the odds that they'll take that first semester seriously.