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Analyzing Fallacies in Media: Appeal to Fear and Red Herring

This document analyzes fallacies used in media, specifically the appeal to fear and red herring techniques in arguments.

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    Analyzing Fallacies in Media: Appeal to Fear and Red Herring PHI 103 Week 3 Discussion Question 2 One rich source of fallacies is the media: television, radio, magazines, and the Internet (including, of course, commercials.) Identify two distinct fallacies you see committed in the media. Do you think it is more likely that you will not be fooled by these fallacies having studied logic? What do you think those presenting these arguments assume about the logical skills of their viewers? Is this a good or bad assumption for them to make? Two distinct fallacies that I think are committed in the media is Appeal to Fear and Red Herring. An Appeal to Fear is a fallacy in which a person attempts to create support for an idea by using deception and propaganda in attempts to increase fear and prejudice toward a competitor. It’s also known as Scare Tactics, Appeal to Force, and Ad Baculum. (Changing minds, 2012). An example would be the media exaggerating issues in the world such as the Y2K scare, causing uncertainty and confusion among those who cannot discern the false and the truth. Many websites, blogs and forums have covered the topic of the Y2K excruciating detail, all under the assumption that preparation will be the necessary plan for many of us when the proverbial crap hits the fan. This notion is predicated upon the belief that preparation for a world collapse is necessary for your immediate survival in case of this event that you must plan and prepare for now. However, nothing could be further from the real and actual truth. It seems like the media is very good at this and likes providing this type of news. Putting the fear in people to stock up on water and supplies to prepare for the worse. It’s very rare to see something good reported on the news, but as soon as they get wind of something bad happening their all over it. I personally think this is not good; yes it is important to know what is going on in the world. I personally will hardly watch the news anymore due to the fact that it can be very depressing. Another example is Red Herring. According to our text it states “A Red Herring fallacy is committed by someone who tries to avoid the issue by introducing another, irrelevant issue, hoping that it will then attract attention away from the issue that should be discussed.”(Mosser, 2011). I believe politicians use this fallacy to avoid answering questions they don't really have an answer for. Instead of just answering the question they will use their tactics to distract your attention by changing the subject or by bringing up another issue. I think those committing fallacies in the media, especially in advertisement, assume that the average person will assume we will just take their word for it and not logically evaluate what they have told us. It’s really sad to say, but this is probably a good assumption for them to make, especially in advertising. They have been doing this type of advertising for many years now so

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