A form of Truth Bias where one invokes "truth" as a self-justifying warrant for their position, treating their claims as simply what's true and therefore beyond challenge. The fallacy lies in using the concept of truth to immunize one's views from examination—"I'm just telling the truth" becomes a way of saying "I don't need to argue, because what I say is simply reality." This fallacy shuts down inquiry rather than advancing it, positioning the speaker as the conduit of truth and all opponents as either deceived or deceivers. It's argument by assertion of virtue, not by evidence or reason.
Example: "She responded to every question with 'I'm just telling the truth'—as if saying it made it so. Argumentum Ad Veritatem: using the word 'truth' to avoid having to demonstrate it."
A Shackteau is a humble, weather-beaten, structurally questionable shelter located in a spectacular or highly coveted place—Wales, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Crested Butte, coastal Maine, the Alps—where the building itself may be worth almost nothing, but the dirt, view, access, and mythology make it absurdly valuable.
In use:
Shackteâu - We thought it was an abandoned shed until the realtor called it a rare alpine Shackteâu with unobstructed views and listed it for $2 million.