Red+Herring

 RED HERRING!! The name of the fallacy & all similar names for the fallacy. * ignoration elenchi ( most popular name known ) A specific definition of the fallacy that explains it in clear language.
 * The name of the fallacy I am researching is "Red Herring" and some of the similar names of this fallacy is
 * irrelevant thesis
 * smoke screen
 * wild goose chase
 * red-herring prospectus

* Specific definition :something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue. Reasons why people would use the fallacy in speaking.


 * suppose that in our community there are drawings of graffiti on public buildings. I point out that it is an illegal activity and suggest that we should make a more concerted effort to apprehend and prosecute the offenders. You respond as follow: "but graffiti is art and the people who do it are artists". This is Red Herring, because the artistic value of graffiti is unrelated to the question of it's legality. However, because you are still talking about graffiti and saying something that I might disagree with, you may succeed in distracting my attention from the real issue.

argument A is presented by person #1  person #2 introduces argument B.   Argument A is abandoned. * original argument : "we must legalize weed, it is tearing families apart "Weed can the treatment to help cure tumors to seizures. * Red Herring : " But look at all those druggies arrested, they are obviously criminals" = * The Switch : they wouldn't be getting arrested if the laws were more lenient and conducive to personal freedom. ( the change in topic is meant to reflect the original arguement, but is really meant to change the topic. It is a deflection to avoid actually talking about the original premise.) =
 * Suppose we are members of a jury trying to determine whether the evidence we have just heard is enough to convict the defendant of robbing a bank. In it's defense, you point out that the defendant is indigent, that his family was hungry, and that he was wrongly fired from his previous job. This is a specific kind of Red Herring called appeal to emotion. What you have said is irrelevant to the question wether he committed the crime, but it may influence the decision by making us feel sorry for him.
 * 3 or more examples from life of people using the fallacy.
 * =Logical form: =

= *A is B therefore C (stated by subject A) red herring: (subject B states ) B is D therefore E (B is used to setup a distraction "E" thus a red herring is commited as A and C are both ignored). Note that bringing up new points is not red herring fallacy in its own right; the new point must deflect from properly addressing the original premise. *Senator #1: "why were you willing to support the antiabortion amendment ?Don't you have any feelings at all for the unborn children whose lives are being indiscriminately blotted out? = = = = = = *Senator #2 : "i just don't understand why people who get so worked up about lives being blotted out by abortion don't have the same feelings about the thousand lives that are blotted out every year by the indiscriminate use of handguns. Is not the issue of sanctity of human life involved in both issues ? why have you not supported in our efforts at gun - control legislation?" =