Whataboutism Fallacy Fallacy

The mistake of dismissing a valid accusation of hypocrisy or inconsistency as mere Whataboutism. While true Whataboutism deflects from a topic by raising an irrelevant counter-accusation, this fallacy fallacy occurs when the counter-accusation is directly relevant to exposing double standards or bad faith in the original argument. Crying "Whataboutism!" in such cases is a cheap way to avoid addressing the substantive point about equitable principle.

Whataboutism Fallacy Fallacy Example: Nation A condemns Nation B for electoral interference. Nation B replies, "You have funded coups in ten countries this decade." If Nation A's media declares this "classic Whataboutism," they commit the Whataboutism Fallacy Fallacy. The reply is not a deflection; it's a crucial challenge to Nation A's moral authority and the consistency of the applied principle.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Tu Quoque Fallacy Fallacy

Mislabeling a relevant critique of an arguer's credibility or consistency as a fallacious Tu Quoque (You Too!). Genuine Tu Quoque is a fallacy when it argues that an action is right because the accuser also does it. The fallacy fallacy occurs when pointing out an arguer's blatant hypocrisy or conflicting interest is dismissed as Tu Quoque, even when that hypocrisy fundamentally undermines the sincerity or logical foundation of their argument.

Tu Quoque Fallacy Fallacy Example: A tobacco CEO argues against vaping regulations, citing "health concerns." A critic points out the CEO's company sells millions of cigarettes annually. The CEO's spokesperson says, "That's just a Tu Quoque attack on our CEO." This is the Tu Quoque Fallacy Fallacy. The hypocrisy isn't a distraction; it's central to assessing the CEO's credibility and the argument's good faith.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Ad Hominem Fallacy Fallacy

Incorrectly crying "Ad Hominem!" when someone makes a relevant critique of the speaker's background, motives, or qualifications that legitimately affects the argument's weight. Not all personal remarks are fallacious; only those irrelevant to the topic are. This fallacy fallacy weaponizes the term to immunize speakers from any scrutiny of their bias, conflicts of interest, or expertise, treating all such scrutiny as an illegitimate personal attack.

Ad Hominem Fallacy Fallacy Example: A politician arguing for deregulating Big Pharma is revealed to hold millions in pharmaceutical stock. A commentator notes this clear conflict of interest. The politician's supporters scream "Ad hominem!" This is the Ad Hominem Fallacy Fallacy. The financial motive is not a petty insult; it's a devastatingly relevant fact for assessing the argument's integrity.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Straw Man Fallacy Fallacy

The error of accusing someone of constructing a Straw Man when they have actually provided a fair, accurate paraphrase or logical extrapolation of an opponent's position. This fallacy fallacy is a defensive maneuver used to dodge strong counter-arguments by claiming misrepresentation, often by insisting on an overly literal, hyper-narrow reading of one's own words to avoid their implied consequences.

Straw Man Fallacy Fallacy Example: Person A: "We should abolish the police." Person B: "So you believe in a state of anarchy with no public safety mechanism?" Person A shouts, "Straw man! I didn't say that!" But Person B's reply is a reasonable interrogation of the practical implication of the stated position. The accusation is itself fallacious—a Straw Man Fallacy Fallacy.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Fallacy Fallacy (Argumentum ad Logicam)

The formal meta-fallacy of concluding that a proposition is false simply because the argument presented for it contains a logical fallacy. This is a critical thinking fail state: you correctly spot flawed reasoning (e.g., an appeal to emotion, a post hoc correlation) but then incorrectly assume the conclusion is therefore untrue. A bad argument for a claim doesn't automatically make the claim wrong; it just means you're still waiting for a good argument.

Fallacy Fallacy (Argumentum ad Logicam) Example: "He argues we should help the poor because it makes us feel good. That's just an appeal to emotion, a fallacy. Therefore, we should not help the poor." This commits the Fallacy Fallacy. The poor might still desperately need help; the speaker has just shot down one weak justification, not disproven the need for the action itself.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

NPOV Fallacy

The flawed reasoning that perfect, absolute neutrality is achievable, or that striving for NPOV is the same as striving for truth. This fallacy has two forms: 1) The idea that a viewpoint can be separated from all perspective (the "view from nowhere"), and 2) The belief that by presenting all sides equally, one has accomplished a fair and accurate representation, even when one side is factually wrong or morally indefensible. It mistakes a procedural ethic for an epistemic guarantee.

Example: Arguing that a Wikipedia article on the shape of the Earth should "fairly represent both the round-Earth and flat-Earth models" in order to be neutral commits the NPOV Fallacy. It elevates the process of balance over the fact of reality, creating a "neutral" article that is fundamentally misleading. True accuracy is sacrificed on the altar of procedural neutrality.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Not Happening Fallacy

A cognitive and rhetorical failure where the sheer scale, complexity, or existential dread of a looming crisis (like climate catastrophe or societal collapse) leads individuals and institutions to treat it as impossible rather than improbable. It’s not denial of evidence, but a psychological surrender to the unthinkable. By dismissing the event as "not happening," the mind avoids the paralyzing burden of preparing for it. This fallacy confuses statistical low-probability with metaphysical impossibility, often reinforced by the fact that truly systemic disasters have no recent local precedent, making them feel like science fiction instead of pending history.

Example: A coastal city council rejects funding for a massive seawall upgrade because "a storm that powerful has never hit us here." This is the Not Happening Fallacy. They are not denying climate science; they are treating a historically unprecedented, high-impact hurricane—now more likely due to warming oceans—as a mythic event, opting for cognitive comfort over costly, disruptive preparation.

by Nammugal February 5, 2026