The rhetorical move of accusing someone of being "brainwashed" as a way of dismissing their beliefs, commitments, or arguments without engagement. The accusation positions the target as incapable of independent thought, their views as mere programming. The fallacy lies in using the accusation as a refutation—as if demonstrating that someone is brainwashed (which you haven't actually demonstrated) proves their views are false. But even brainwashed people can hold true beliefs; the source doesn't determine truth. The accusation functions to avoid engagement by pathologizing the believer.
"I explained why I find meaning in my religious community. Response: 'You've just been brainwashed since childhood.' That's You-Are-Brainwashed Fallacy—dismissing my actual reasons by attacking my capacity for reason. Maybe I have thought critically; maybe my commitments are examined. The accusation lets you feel superior without having to engage a single thing I said."
by Dumu The Void February 28, 2026
Get the You-Are-Brainwashed Fallacy mug.To get a person or group to believe things without the use of their critical and independent thinking skills.
The Heaven's Gate cult was brainwashed into believing they could transform into extraterrestrial beings.
by Nekaterasemandoogehtlla June 12, 2021
Get the Brainwash mug.Brainwash – To persuade and train someone into adopting certain beliefs that are usually irrational, questionable, and doubtful. These beliefs are often outside the norm and goes against commonsense.
A cult leader had successfully brainwashed his followers into believing that killing innocent lives outside their belief is a noble and heroic act.
by NobleGentleman April 19, 2019
Get the Brainwash mug."Trainwashed" refers to a state of being influenced or manipulated by the content and ideas propagated by the streamer Trainwreckstv, leading to a distorted perspective on certain topics, particularly regarding gambling and individuals like Hasan, Pokimane, Mizkif, and the Twitch platform. This term describes the phenomenon where individuals may adopt the views and beliefs promoted by Trainwreckstv without critical examination, potentially resulting in an altered perception of reality and an inclination to view gambling favorably while harboring negative sentiments towards the mentioned individuals and platform. It highlights the potential impact of influential personalities in shaping opinions and attitudes, often leading to biased or one-sided perspectives on various subjects.
Trainwrecks: Yo X, you understand me right? These twitch snakes, these dog-whistling, virtue signaling fucks. These guys are fake as fuck. They are just jealous because Stake doesn't approach these guys to promote gambling for millions of dollars unlike us and now they want to put us down. You understand that right X? You understand me right? These guys wants to bring us down because they are jealous.
Xqc: Y-Y-Y-Yeah man... Truueeeeee. Actually true. Actually true.
Chat: SCHIZO Trainwashed
Xqc: Y-Y-Y-Yeah man... Truueeeeee. Actually true. Actually true.
Chat: SCHIZO Trainwashed
by adeptthewhale June 21, 2023
Get the Trainwashed mug.Casey has been brainwashing Sheri, Greg, John, Becky, Billy, and Michael into thinking I'm a bear when I'm not.
by Karen Stickney May 10, 2006
Get the brainwash mug.by JoeJoeJoe September 10, 2004
Get the brainwash mug.Millions of people around the world were brainwashed in believing they were bad people.
Brainwash is evil and destructive.
Brainwash is evil and destructive.
by pseudonymA March 1, 2013
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