← Back to archive

Context of a conversation

Historical archive only. New interaction is disabled.

Original Question

Hi Kris. It's glad to meet you. 


Me...you as well, and thank you for the coffee.


Him...Don't worry, I don't expect you to come to our church services just because I bought you a cup of coffee. 


Me...oh, okay...? 

Answers

2

There's no fallacy here, just plain-old emotional manipulation. Just trying to make you feel that you owe to the other person, to return the favor and do what he wants you to do. The trick here is to 'give something small to get something big'. And remember: if you're helping someone and expecting something in return, you're doing business, not kindness. A very nice book about common manipulation tactics is "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion"

Certainly! Let's examine the logical fallacies, cognitive biases, poor logic, and poor reasoning present in this conversation:

1. **Presumption Fallacy (False Assumption)**:
- **Statement**: "I don't expect you to come to our church services just because I bought you a cup of coffee."
- **Issue**: The statement presumes that you might think there's an expectation to attend church services after receiving the coffee. This presumption lacks a basis; simply buying someone a coffee does not logically imply an expectation of attending church services.

2. **Cognitive Bias (Projection)**:
- The person might be projecting their own thoughts or societal norms onto you. They assume that you might feel some obligation or expectation after receiving the coffee, which reflects their own biases rather than any indication from your behavior.

3. **Poor Reasoning (Non Sequitur)**:
- The thought that buying a coffee could lead to an expectation of attending church services is a classic example of a non sequitur. This means that the conclusion (expectation to attend church) doesn't logically follow from the premise (buying coffee).

4. **Social Expectation Bias**:
- The conversation implies a social expectation that gifts or favors might incur a reciprocal obligation. This isn't universally true, and assuming this can lead to misunderstandings in social interactions.

In summary, the statement, "I don't expect you to come to our church services just because I bought you a cup of coffee," is flawed due to a presumption fallacy, projection bias, poor logic in the form of a non sequitur, and a potential misinterpretation of social expectations. The interaction reflects more about the speaker's assumptions than any implied obligation on the part of the listener.
Book

Want the full book?

Get the complete guide to logical fallacies by Bo Bennett.

Buy the Book

Master Logical Fallacies Online

Take the Virversity course and sharpen your reasoning skills with structured lessons.

View Online Course