Question

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mike

Which Fallacy is this and how to respond to person B?

Mike: You really seem bitter, who hurt you in the past that would cause you to be so hateful towards the opposite sex?

Pete: Are you a psychiatrist or something?

Mike A: No

Pete: Then you have no idea what you're talking about do you?

asked on Monday, Aug 03, 2015 12:29:04 PM by mike

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Sergiu
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*If this is an argumentative dialogue
**If it is not an argumentative dialogue but one between two friends and/or therapy

*1. From my point of view, the first question ("...who hurt you in the past that would cause you to be so hateful towards the opposite sex?") seems like a loaded question . It assumes that the person (Pete) who is asked was actually hurt in the past and this is the reason she is hateful towards the opposite sex (sic!). This can be misleading for Pete which was probably not hurt by someone which in turn lead to hating the opposite sex.

2. Moreover, the connection between hurt and hatred (i.e., towards the opposite sex) could be labeled as a false cause . Even if it's true that Pete was hurt in the past and that he has hatred for the opposite sex it could be other factors that lead him to hate women.

3. Pete is pulling out a red herring responding to a question with a question that technically is a logical fallacy. He wants to ward off a direct answer to the question addressed by Mike. He then discredits Mike for not being an authority in the field so he(Mike) is not qualified to ask the question.

** In this situation I would say that Pete simply avoids answering the question addressed by Mike which could reflect a defense mechanism which functions as way to protect his self (i.e., self-image). He does not want to be viewed as a hater of the opposite sex and/or he does not want to admit this fact to himself. (Still, more possibilities exist).

answered on Monday, Aug 03, 2015 01:04:23 PM by Sergiu

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Sergiu
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Looks like appeal to authority to me right off the top of my head.
Just because one isn't a psychiatrist doesn't therefore mean they, through personal experience, cannot inquire as to why someone seems to be hateful towards women. It does mean they can't necessarily offer up resolution to the problem, but if these people are friends then Pete might be considered to be merely deflecting the inquiry because the assertion that they were hurt by a woman is true and the person doesn't want to confront it.
Other than just a conversation......I don't really see why any in depth look into possible fallacious reasoning is of any benefit. But that is just my opinion.
answered on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2015 07:56:17 PM by Sergiu

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