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To: doorgunner69

Saying your position has overwhelming support is a logical fallacy called the bandwagon appeal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

It’s actually an effective propaganda technique. Anyone who disagrees with the author is painted as out of touch with the majority. The same technique is being used to increase support for sodomite “marriage.” Polls clearly show most people are in favor of it, so you’re abnormal if you don’t agree. It makes people shift their opinion to the perceived majority’s, which makes it even easier to sell as the majority opinion.


27 posted on 02/16/2013 10:40:56 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Why celebrate evil? Evil is easy. Good is the goal worth striving for.)
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To: CitizenUSA
Anyone who disagrees with the author is painted as out of touch with the majority.

Well, if the majority are idiots that actually doesn't reflect badly on the outliers.

32 posted on 02/16/2013 10:48:17 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: CitizenUSA

freepressjim@gmail.com


44 posted on 02/17/2013 12:59:11 AM PST by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: CitizenUSA

Thanks for that interesting link on argumentum ad populum. I see the article also calls it the “bandwagon fallacy” among other names. This approach is used often and it should be countered by calling it what it is as you’ve done.


50 posted on 02/17/2013 4:57:51 AM PST by MulberryDraw (That which cannot be paid, won't be paid.)
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To: CitizenUSA

In a similar vein, consider the language used when antis talk about “reasonable” gun control.

If you are in opposition, yours must logically then be an “unreasonable” position. Your opponent has already defined the terms of what is reasonable, so it is impossible to win the debate.

Just by entering the debate on those terms you’ve already lost.


55 posted on 02/17/2013 6:30:05 AM PST by Gefreiter
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