Offering a single exception to a rule to disprove the general rule. The tall woman fallacy gets its name from people using a single tall woman to "disprove" the fact that men are taller than women.
This fallacy usually comes from misinterpreting a general rule to mean it applies in every single case, e.g. "All men are taller than all women" instead of "Men are, on average, taller than women."
This fallacy usually comes from misinterpreting a general rule to mean it applies in every single case, e.g. "All men are taller than all women" instead of "Men are, on average, taller than women."
A)
Jack: Men are taller than women.
Jill: That's not true Jack, Mary is 6'3".
Jack: That doesn't disprove the rule. Even when we take Mary and other tall women into account, there are still more tall men than women, and the average height for men will be higher than the average height for women. A few exceptions don't disprove the rule.
B)
Will: More violent crimes are committed by young people than by old people.
Joe: That's not true, I knew a 70 year-old who beat up his wife. Are you saying he didn't break the law?
Will: No Joe, that's the tall woman fallacy. While old people do commit crimes, there are fewer older violent criminals than there are young criminals, and fewer violent crimes committed by old people than by young people.
Jack: Men are taller than women.
Jill: That's not true Jack, Mary is 6'3".
Jack: That doesn't disprove the rule. Even when we take Mary and other tall women into account, there are still more tall men than women, and the average height for men will be higher than the average height for women. A few exceptions don't disprove the rule.
B)
Will: More violent crimes are committed by young people than by old people.
Joe: That's not true, I knew a 70 year-old who beat up his wife. Are you saying he didn't break the law?
Will: No Joe, that's the tall woman fallacy. While old people do commit crimes, there are fewer older violent criminals than there are young criminals, and fewer violent crimes committed by old people than by young people.
by woman of average height March 21, 2014
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"Nick is really out here exemplifying the Olomu Fallacy in AP Stat today. He said that he either would or wouldn't get head, it's that simple bro! Iffy uh"
by InTheWind November 12, 2019
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The belief efforts to protect people from calamity will only lead to them being more careless, and bringing on more calamity.
This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
An example of the curmudgeon's fallacy is the erroneous claim that safer cars make for careless drivers.
by Abu Yahya October 19, 2008
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by MackSneale January 17, 2022
Get the Shut the fuck up fallacy mug.A fallacy referenced in fight discussions that means "it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do something to someone Just because something can’t/hasn’t been proven otherwise."
" One Punch Man can't be beaten by Superman, because he always ONE PUNCHED to vicotry."
"That's a No Limits Fallacy. Superman has beaten much stronger things before, and it's possible there's something out their that can beat OPM."
"That's a No Limits Fallacy. Superman has beaten much stronger things before, and it's possible there's something out their that can beat OPM."
by Woundwort March 25, 2017
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Get the fellace mug.A: I heard Mark told his date that he was hung like a horse. She wouldn't stop laughing when the Magnum just kept falling off.
B: What a phallic fallacy!
B: What a phallic fallacy!
by Piffin. March 4, 2017
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