[general_re]

I'm glad you find it useful. But don't just think of it as a way of improving your own argumentation - although it is that, of course. Think of it as enhancing the tools in your BS detector kit, for when someone else is trying to slip one over on you ;)

[risk]

Thanks, I agree these tools are useful for analyzing media as well as improving my own writing. I think it works best for me when I think of it both ways.

It would be fun to start tagging articles with keywords indicating which of these failures of logic were applied (intentionally or not) and then discussing how the articles go awry. Maybe we need a "logic ping list."

If course you're familiar with http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a360d496e0c97.htm - propaganda techniques posted by Give me Liberty.