"Appeal to fear" is one of the cornerstones of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt">FUD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_fear">Wikip*dia calls, "appeal to fear",
"...a logical fallacy in which a person attempts to create support for his or her idea by increasing fear and prejudice toward a competitor."
Besides being a series of internet macros(
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb208/ongaru/Logical%20Fallacies/),
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy">Wikip*dia says they are:
"...component(s) of an argument which, being demonstrably flawed in its logic or form, renders the argument invalid in whole.
So, in conclusion, the GOP candidacy for the presidency is relying on flawed arguments to increase fear and prejudice against Obama.
I invite my fellow DUers to try using it in a sentence sometime in the next 29 days and post how it went. If you really want to be snooty, use either of the latin phrases for appeal to fear: argumentum ad metum or
argumentum in terrorem, unless you think the person you're talking to is too stupid to make the distinction between an argument meant to terrorize and their faith that Obama is a terrorist.
-------------------------------
LINKS
*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies">Wikip*dia's list of logial fallacies
*
another list of logical fallacies*
yet another list*
a chart of fallacies
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
