Question

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Monica

What is it called when someone takes one instance of something and then implies a universal future application of the instance?

My husband and I had an argument over a parenting moment pertaining to my 16YO daughter having served herself dessert after a family meal without offering desert to everyone else. (Note: We are newly remarried and he is not the father of my teenage children.) On the specific topic at hand, we stalemated in disagreement. I insisted this protocol was not being rude or inconsiderate because rather it is what she is used to with me and thus a reasonable baseline for expected behavior. He insisted I was making excuses for her and that she is old enough and perceptive enough to know better. Ultimately, although I respect his right to a differing opinion, I am her parent and believe I know best in the situation, so I rejected his argument in favor of mine. He then said something to the effect of “so in the future you’re going to do what you want so I should just keep my opinions to myself?!” And he would similarly pose it as a question, “so you’re saying you want me to keep my opinions to myself because I might disagree with you ?!”

Exhausted by the argument at this point, I said yes. I feel certain there is a name for this type of logic and I feel it is unfair but I don’t know what it’s called. He uses the ”So you....<insert some inaccurate and extreme generalization here>” approach a lot.
asked on Sunday, Apr 22, 2018 09:47:05 AM by Monica

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Answers

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Bo Bennett, PhD
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First, your husband should know the universal rule that the wife is always right :) But assuming he ignores that rule...

I would guess that your husband made this comment out of emotion and not reason, meaning, I don't think he actually believes that because you disagreed with him once, his opinions are never welcome. Frankly, it sounds like a childish emotional outburst. There is no fallacy for this that I know of but that doesn't mean it is a reasonable reaction.
answered on Sunday, Apr 22, 2018 11:26:34 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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Ad Hominem Info
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Apart from a violation of the first and universal rule of husbandry (as Bo already stated), it seems also like a bit of a Straw Man (or rather Straw Woman) attack: at least as you presented the case, you didn't actually ask him to keep his opinions to himself, yet this is the position he attacked instead of your actual position.
answered on Sunday, Apr 22, 2018 02:29:35 PM by Ad Hominem Info

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skips777
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I agree with Dr. Bo when he says this seems like a childish emotional outburst by your husband...I'm not sure but it sounds like your husband believes your daughter, and maybe even you, are there to serve him. If he wants dessert tell him to get his lazy ass up and get it himself. Now it may depend om the dessert...Was it something that could have been brought to the table and sat down where everyone could serve themselves? Then maybe yes, she might have asked if anyone wanted some and brought it to the table to serve herself and it be there for others. But theres no fallacy here except your husband lumping in one insatnce of disagreement as being a reason to judge how every instance would turn out, that might be fallacious reasoning. Btw, If she is your child and not his he should know that his job isn't punishment, that's yours, But him offering an opinion on being considerate isn't such a bad thing....I give couple advice....jk
answered on Monday, Apr 23, 2018 05:24:23 AM by skips777

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