Unnamed(?) logical fallacies

[Travis Retriever]

Oh thank Toki (Fist of the North Star reference) that we're finally giving a fallacy to a guy like Bill Maher.

Words cannot describe the hatred, contempt, and disdain (except those words obviously) I hold for this man. Sure, he doesn't believe in the G-man, but that doesn't mean jack when he's practically brainless in everything else.

My dad likes Bill Maher's show, so I unfortunately have to hear him every now and then, and when I do, I feel physically ill every time.

His argument on 1950s economics is the same kind of nonsense I hear when people say that the Constitution shouldn't be followed because the people who wrote it were slave owners, and thus, the document itself has no moral ground. It's stupid, and honestly, I see it as grasping at straws to nitpick a reason to bash something. Honestly, I just refer to it as douchebaggery, but that might be considered too harsh for some people.

EDIT: After thinking about it further, if we're going to give it a name, I'd say "Appeal to Negative Circumstance." When rejecting a good idea because when it was implemented, something bad was happening roughly around the same time.

Indeed.  Also, Maher is an anti-vaxxer and (based on the evidence I've seen from C0nc0rdance's video on the subject) a germ theory denalist too.

Sounds like a good name to me!

[AnCap Dave]

Indeed.  Also, Maher is an anti-vaxxer and (based on the evidence I've seen from C0nc0rdance's video on the subject) a germ theory denalist too.

Sounds like a good name to me!

My problem with Bill Maher isn't even that he's necessarily wrong. He's a total asshole about being wrong. It's like we took all the worst parts of Bill O'Riley, and multiplied them to levels far beyond the comprehension of common people. He's just such an arrogant prick that I feel the need to punch a hole through his face. I don't wish death on anybody except for very few people. He's not exactly in THAT category, but he comes close. Hell, just the other night I had to hear this guy, and he was talking about how, "People asked me why I'm going to North Carolina, but I don't like to nod these people off. Some of them there are actually smart people who are surrounded by a bunch of stupid rednecks!" Yeah, because anyone who disagrees with you is either a corporate shill or a herpyderpy redneck who hasn't come to terms with the 21st century. Hell, in the same show, he said some people hate homosexuality, yet he can't understand for the life of them why they like pro wrestling. It seems like he comes up with a reason every time he opens his mouth why I shouldn't like him. His audience isn't much better. They cheer everything he says or someone who is OMGZ SUPER LEFT says. Christopher Hitchens gave them a nice middle finger, and I've come to like him more for it. I liked the man already, but it's like 1000 bonus points in my book.

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[Travis Retriever]

Indeed.  It's like my friend Lord T Hawkeye says, "Calling Fox News biased is like walking into an entire room of prostitutes going up to own and saying while pointing to another one.  You see her?  She's a whore." (paraphrased of course!)  If the people crying "FAUX NEWS IS BIASED!!111" don't think the left also pulls that crap, they're deluding themselves.

[AnCap Dave]

Indeed.  It's like my friend Lord T Hawkeye says, "Calling Fox News biased is like walking into an entire room of prostitutes going up to own and saying while pointing to another one.  You see her?  She's a whore." (paraphrased of course!)  If the people crying "FAUX NEWS IS BIASED!!111" don't think the left also pulls that crap, they're deluding themselves.

I'm a lot harder on the left than I am on the right because I live in a family full of these idiots.

Anyway, I don't know if anything like this has been mentioned, but I see this kind of quote all the god damned time, and I don't know if there is some kind of fallacy in it, but I feel that something about it isn't right.

"Your car is Japanese. Your Vodka is Russian. Your pizza is Italian. Your kebab is Turkish. Your democracy is Greek. Your coffee is Brazilian. Your movies are American. Your Beers are German. Your shirt is Indian. Your oil is Saudi Arabian. Your electronics are Chinese. Your numbers -Arabic, your letters -Latin. And you complain that your neighbor is an immigrant?"

[Travis Retriever]

"Your car is Japanese. Your Vodka is Russian. Your pizza is Italian. Your kebab is Turkish. Your democracy is Greek. Your coffee is Brazilian. Your movies are American. Your Beers are German. Your shirt is Indian. Your oil is Saudi Arabian. Your electronics are Chinese. Your numbers -Arabic, your letters -Latin. And you complain that your neighbor is an immigrant?"

Really, I don't see what's wrong with that.

[MrBogosity]

"Your car is Japanese. Your Vodka is Russian. Your pizza is Italian. Your kebab is Turkish. Your democracy is Greek. Your coffee is Brazilian. Your movies are American. Your Beers are German. Your shirt is Indian. Your oil is Saudi Arabian. Your electronics are Chinese. Your numbers -Arabic, your letters -Latin. And you complain that your neighbor is an immigrant?"

Now THAT'S a Fav Quote!

[AnCap Dave]

Really, I don't see what's wrong with that.

My problem isn't the quote itself, but how it's applied. It's usually applied when talking about illegal immigration, at least in every context I've ever seen it. These people usually imply that if you are against illegal immigration, you're against any and all foreigners or immigration in any context.

[Travis Retriever]

Alright, back on topic.

So Shane, what do you think of D.Turcotte's idea for a name of Maher's fallacy?

EDIT: After thinking about it further, if we're going to give it a name, I'd say "Appeal to Negative Circumstance." When rejecting a good idea because when it was implemented, something bad was happening roughly around the same time.

(Emphasis added by me.)

[Travis Retriever]

My problem isn't the quote itself, but how it's applied. It's usually applied when talking about illegal immigration, at least in every context I've ever seen it. These people usually imply that if you are against illegal immigration, you're against any and all foreigners or immigration in any context.

The illegal immigrant argument is a circular argument though:
"Why is illegal immigration bad?
Because it's illegal!
What is it illegal?
Because it's bad!"

I personally prefer Harry Browne's solutions and thoughts on this:  http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/Harry_Browne_Immigration.htm

Also, I found these rather convincing too:
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[AnCap Dave]

The illegal immigrant argument is a circular argument though:
"Why is illegal immigration bad?
Because it's illegal!
What is it illegal?
Because it's bad!"

I personally prefer Harry Browne's solutions and thoughts on this:  http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/Harry_Browne_Immigration.htm

Also, I found these rather convincing too:
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Hmm...these are really good arguments. I may have to actually rethink my position. I'm glad you've shown me this.

[Travis Retriever]

Glad to hear it.

[AnCap Dave]

Glad to hear it.

I noticed he's a Star Trek fan. It's funny, because he's a step away from doing a full blown Sulu impression, at least as far as I can tell.

[MrBogosity]

Alright, back on topic.

So Shane, what do you think of D.Turcotte's idea for a name of Maher's fallacy? (Emphasis added by me.)

Personally, I think it's wordy and doesn't really capture the nature of the fallacy.

[FSBlueApocalypse]

I'm bored so I'll reignite an argument from two years ago. I still think the time argument is another form of argument from authority.

If "Dr. Kent Hovind says its true, so it must be" can be considered an argument from an authority, just saying "This has been around for over 6,000 years so it must be awesome" is as well.

[Ibrahim90]

it's what I call the argument from the adequacy of another (a variant of arguing from authority):

Harman Cain: "if 10% is good enough for God....." when referring to his 9-9-9 plan (why not 0-0-0?)