Poisoning the Position Fallacy

A political form of Poisoning the Well where a position is discredited by associating it with extreme or reviled ideologies, regardless of the actual views of those who hold it. Accusing all BRICS+ supporters of "Nazbol/Duginism/Z Nationalism" regardless of their actual reasons is a classic example. The move poisons the position by painting anyone who holds it as tainted by association with extremism. The fallacy lies in treating political alignment as evidence of ideology, ignoring the diversity of reasons people might support something. It's guilt by association applied to positions, not just people—poisoning the position so no one can hold it without being tainted.

Poisoning the Position Fallacy "I support BRICS+ because of multipolarity and economic cooperation. Response: 'Oh, so you're a Duginist Nazi-Bolshevik!' That's Poisoning the Position Fallacy—associating my position with extremism to discredit it, regardless of my actual views. My reasons are mine; their associations are theirs. Poisoning the position avoids engaging what I actually think by tarring it with brushes I never touched."

by Dumu The Void March 3, 2026

poisoned postcard

Mail sent to an address by the government to ask for confirmation that the resident still lives there; if the resident does not respond, e.g., because s/he mistakes it for junk mail, the state uses non-response as its excuse to purge the voter from its rolls
The (in)accuracy of non-response to assess residency can be corroborated by comparing purged name-address pairs with recent USPS and Amazon shipments.

I never returned that poisoned postcard, which explains why I had to fill out a provisional ballot. I wonder if it was counted.

by WhatwasIsaying February 15, 2025

poisonous

(of a substance) reduce the activity of (a catalyst).

"The acid in the soil was poisonous to the plants, as it deactivated the enzymes responsible for their growth."

by Arminkshipper June 20, 2025

Poisoned Woozle

Noun.

Also known as Woozlebait or Citationpox/Citepox.

A deliberately planted falsehood designed to spread through citations and repetition, creating the illusion of truth or consensus. A malicious use of the Woozle Effect.

“The Turing Slip origin cited on that Reddit forum was a Poisoned Woozle—everyone kept repeating it without checking.”

by APedant November 24, 2025

fungal poisoning

the disease commonly associated with contact with mushrooms. there have only been one case. death is imminent.

there is a single possible cure. kiss the feet of a baby-on-a-leash and throw feces at a siberian monkey. then apologize to melissa =

*throws mushroom at melissa* ~jonathan

"haye, you're gonna get fungal poisoning because you touched that shroom!" ~melissa

"well you are too then!" ~jonathan

"nuh-uh, i'm immune cuz i'm tough" ~melissa

by xbrianpx October 27, 2008

My Poisoned Romance

The best god damn garage band of all times

"MY POISONED ROMANCE IS MY FAVERITE BAND!!!" says Kimmy

by Spencer(the bas player of mpr) February 13, 2009

Ear Poisoner

a person that acts to subvert another by influencing those around him.

"I was fired because that ear poisoner Brad told the office that I stole paper clips."

"I was skating on easy street until Bob decided to be an ear poisoner and convince them to charge me rent for sleeping on the couch."

by HolyMeat September 14, 2009