This type of fallacy is a mix of the "hasty generalization" fallacy and the "association fallacy."
Village Idiot Fallacy: This fallacy occurs when Person A highlights a foolish argument made by Person B and criticizes it. Person A then wrongly assumes that anyone remotely associated with Person B also holds the same foolish belief. This fallacy is often applied to entire groups, especially in online discourse. The term "Village Idiot Fallacy" comes from the idea of pointing to the village idiot and then assuming the entire village shares his beliefs, illustrating guilt by association.
Hasty Generalization: This fallacy occurs when someone makes a broad generalization based on a small or unrepresentative sample. (Person A is making a generalization about a group of people based on the beliefs or actions of one individual, the "village idiot.")
Association Fallacy (Guilt by Association): This occurs when someone asserts that qualities of one thing are inherently qualities of another, merely by an irrelevant association. (Person A is claiming that the whole group shares the same beliefs and qualities of the "village idiot" simply because they are associated with him.)
Combining these concepts this is how "The Village Idiot Fallacy" manifests itself.
Village Idiot Fallacy: This fallacy occurs when Person A highlights a foolish argument made by Person B and criticizes it. Person A then wrongly assumes that anyone remotely associated with Person B also holds the same foolish belief. This fallacy is often applied to entire groups, especially in online discourse. The term "Village Idiot Fallacy" comes from the idea of pointing to the village idiot and then assuming the entire village shares his beliefs, illustrating guilt by association.
Hasty Generalization: This fallacy occurs when someone makes a broad generalization based on a small or unrepresentative sample. (Person A is making a generalization about a group of people based on the beliefs or actions of one individual, the "village idiot.")
Association Fallacy (Guilt by Association): This occurs when someone asserts that qualities of one thing are inherently qualities of another, merely by an irrelevant association. (Person A is claiming that the whole group shares the same beliefs and qualities of the "village idiot" simply because they are associated with him.)
Combining these concepts this is how "The Village Idiot Fallacy" manifests itself.
The Village Idiot Fallacy Example:
Person A: "Person B didn't recycle their plastic bottle after lunch. Can you believe that?"
Person A (later): "People from that apartment complex are so irresponsible. They're all like Person B, not caring about the environment at all."
Person A: "Person B didn't recycle their plastic bottle after lunch. Can you believe that?"
Person A (later): "People from that apartment complex are so irresponsible. They're all like Person B, not caring about the environment at all."
by ApplesPotatoGardner July 9, 2024
Get the The Village Idiot Fallacymug. A section 8 apartment in East Houston around Beltway 8 and Woodforest bordering both Channelview and Cloverleaf, 21 mins away from Downtown Houston. Usually for senior living, has psuedo-nice exterior but situations regarding carjackings, gunshots, neighborhood fights, drugs, etc.
by DaisyDukesDaisy December 30, 2023
Get the Lafayette Village Apartmentsmug. Tommy from red dead redemption 2. The man was just trying to get the ruckus away from his bar and he got brain damage, but I mean Arthur is pretty cool so, it makes up for it
You're the village idiot, huh?
by Imbored9876 October 31, 2023
Get the The village idiotmug. A group of meth heads
by Vageta Namikaze July 31, 2019
Get the Shadow Villagemug. In amateur theater and plays, a minor background character with no name or significant role in the story. The opposite of the main protagonist or hero. These characters are typically listed in the credits simply as "Villager A", "Villager B", etc. rather than being given a specific name like major characters.
They exist solely to fill out crowd scenes or provide atmospheric presence, with no lines or purpose beyond blending into the background. A "Villager A" is an utterly unremarkable and unimportant person - the antithesis of the titled hero or lead role.
By extension, the term can refer to anyone/anything insignificant, lacking identity, or playing an inconsequential part in a larger story or event. An anonymous face in the crowd without power, prestige or making any impact.
They exist solely to fill out crowd scenes or provide atmospheric presence, with no lines or purpose beyond blending into the background. A "Villager A" is an utterly unremarkable and unimportant person - the antithesis of the titled hero or lead role.
By extension, the term can refer to anyone/anything insignificant, lacking identity, or playing an inconsequential part in a larger story or event. An anonymous face in the crowd without power, prestige or making any impact.
"Instead of being the hero, Jamie was just a Villager A in her own life story, blending into the masses instead of pursuing her dreams."
"At the corporate office, Bob felt like a Villager A, utterly replaceable and lacking any meaningful role or impact."
"At the corporate office, Bob felt like a Villager A, utterly replaceable and lacking any meaningful role or impact."
by oneDarkCoder April 26, 2024
Get the Villager Amug. A three-way sexual endeavor where one of the participants who is being spit-roasted is also spun & rotated around.
by Powder Man May 12, 2021
Get the village feastmug. A call of duty team that turned into a eSports organization. Bunch of sweaty nerds, but make some dope content.
by Madeinyxo August 30, 2017
Get the sinai villagemug.