Hard Problem of Logical Fallacy Fallacies

Also known as the Fallacy Fallacy Problem: The self-defeating mistake of dismissing an argument solely because it contains a logical fallacy. This is the meta-error where calling out a fallacy becomes a fallacy itself (argument from fallacy). It assumes that if the reasoning is flawed, the conclusion must be false. This creates a logical trap where any critique can be infinitely regressed: "You used a fallacy to point out my fallacy, so your critique is invalid!" It turns discourse into a hall of mirrors where the act of policing logic destroys the possibility of communication.

Example: Alex: "Climate change is real because 99% of scientists say so, and you're a oil shill for denying it!" (This commits an appeal to authority and an ad hominem). Blake: "Ha! You used two fallacies! Therefore, climate change isn't real!" Blake has committed the fallacy fallacy. Alex's conclusion (climate change is real) is supported by massive evidence independent of their flawed reasoning. Dismissing the conclusion because of the poor argument is a critical failure. The hard problem: Spotting fallacies is easy; knowing what to do with that information without committing a greater error is the real intellectual work. Hard Problem of Logical Fallacy Fallacies.

by Dumuabzu January 25, 2026

Hard Problem of Fallacy Fallacies

The cultural and pedagogical consequence of over-emphasizing fallacy hunting: It trains people to be debaters, not thinkers; critics, not builders. When the primary intellectual skill becomes identifying flaws in others' reasoning, it fosters a hostile, zero-sum discourse where the goal is to "win" by exposing error rather than to "understand" by synthesizing perspectives. The hard problem is that this creates communities hyper-competent at destruction and incapable of construction, where every proposal is instantly shredded by fallacy accusations, leading to epistemic paralysis and cynicism.

Example: In a community meeting about a new park, every suggestion is shot down with fallacy labels: "That's an appeal to emotion!" (about making it kid-friendly), "That's a slippery slope!" (about adding a basketball court), "That's anecdotal!" (about a neighbor's experience). The meeting ends with no plan, only a list of logical crimes. The hard problem: The pursuit of perfect reasoning has prevented any reasonable action. The group is left with immaculate logic and no park. It's the tyranny of the critic over the creator. Hard Problem of Fallacy Fallacies.

by Dumuabzu January 25, 2026

Goldfish Fallacy

Avoiding accountability for a prior claim by pretending to not recall stating the claim, thereby avoiding the need to defend, retract, or reconcile it with current claims.

I hate Jeffery, I always knew he was terrible.
You said Jeffery was in the right last week.
No I did not, I do not remember saying that.
That is a Goldfish Fallacy, there is hard evidence of you saying that.

by Vixo38 January 26, 2026

Goldfish Fallacy

Avoiding accountability for a prior claim by pretending to not recall stating the claim, thereby avoiding the need to defend, retract, or reconcile it with current claims.

I hate Jeffery, I always knew he was a terrible person.
You said Jeffery was in the right last week.
No I did not, I do not remember saying that.
That is a Goldfish Fallacy, there is hard evidence of you saying that.

by Vixo38 January 26, 2026

Punching Bag Fallacy

A close relative of the Straw Man, but with a key difference: it distorts or oversimplifies an opponent's argument not just to make it easier to attack, but by leveraging supposed juridical, hegemonic, or moral authority to legitimize the distortion. You create a weak, fake version of the argument (the "punching bag") that aligns with established power structures, then beat it down while claiming you're upholding law, order, or mainstream morality. It's a Straw Man with a badge and a gavel.

Example: "Arguing for police reform, you say 'We need greater accountability.' The opponent commits the Punching Bag Fallacy: 'So you want to defund the police and let criminals run wild, creating chaos in our streets!' They've twisted 'accountability' into 'anarchy,' using the hegemonic fear of crime to justify attacking a position you never held."

by Abzugal January 30, 2026

Fallacy Blind Spot

The universal human glitch where you can spot a logical fallacy in your opponent's argument from a mile away but remain completely oblivious to the identical or even more egregious fallacies riddling your own. It's the cognitive equivalent of having flawless 20/20 vision for other people's dirt but wearing smudge-covered goggles when looking at your own. This blind spot turns every debate into a one-sided game of "Gotcha!" where you're always the catcher, never the caught, because your brain helpfully files your own reasoning under "Common Sense" instead of "Needs Inspection."

Example: "He spent the whole call-out thread meticulously dissecting someone's ad hominem attacks, while his entire opening post was a textbook straw man. Classic fallacy blind spot. He's a fallacy hawk when hunting others, but a fallacy ostrich when it comes to his own writing, with his head buried deep in the sand of self-righteousness."

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026

Self-Serving Fallacy

A logical fallacy that you don't just accidentally commit, but actively cultivate and deploy because its flawed conclusion directly benefits you, validates your identity, or protects your ego. It's reasoning as a personal bodyguard, hired to defend your pre-existing beliefs or interests, no matter how intellectually dishonest its methods. You'll cling to a post hoc ergo propter hoc if it makes your lucky socks seem genius, or embrace a no true Scotsman to dismiss critics of your in-group.

Example: "His go-to self-serving fallacy was false equivalence. 'Sure, I exaggerated my resume, but everyone massages the truth! It's just like a politician using spin!' He'd built a flawed moral equation where his deception was just a harmless industry standard, neatly letting himself off the hook."

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026