Da Mihi In Manu Mea Fallacy

A fallacy or meta-fallacy where a person demands proof, evidence, or sources from their opponent as if the opponent were a servant obligated to provide whatever is requested, whenever it's requested, in whatever form is demanded. Named from the Latin phrase meaning "give it into my hand," the fallacy treats the opposing debater as a butler who must fetch whatever intellectual goods the demander wants, regardless of relevance, burden of proof, or the demander's own obligations. The butler fallacy is typically combined with moving the proofpost: first demand a source, then demand a better source, then demand a different kind of source, then declare all sources inadequate. The goal is not to find truth but to exhaust the opponent, to put them in a servant position, to establish dominance through endless demands. The butler fallacy is the signature tactic of bad-faith arguers who treat debate as a power game rather than a search for understanding.

Example: "He spent three hours demanding sources, then rejecting them, then demanding different ones, then rejecting those. Da Mihi In Manu Mea Fallacy in action: he'd appointed himself the master and her the butler, expected to serve whatever proof he demanded. When she finally asked what evidence he would accept, he said 'I'll know it when I see it.' He never saw it."

by Dumu The Void March 10, 2026

But I Don't Know What This Term Means Fallacy

An inverted strawman where the person denies the applicability of a term by claiming ignorance of its meaning. The classic form: someone accused of racism says "you can't call me racist because I don't even know what racism means." The move uses claimed ignorance as a shield—if I don't know the term, the term can't apply to me. The fallacy lies in treating ignorance as innocence, not knowing as not being. But actions have meanings regardless of the actor's vocabulary. Not knowing what racism means doesn't mean your actions aren't racist; it just means you're ignorant, not innocent.

But I Don't Know What This Term Means Fallacy "I pointed out his pattern of discriminatory comments. Response: 'I don't even know what racism means, so you can't call me racist!' That's But I Don't Know What This Term Means Fallacy—using ignorance as a defense. Not knowing the word doesn't mean the behavior isn't real. Ignorance isn't innocence; it's just ignorance."

by Dumu The Void March 3, 2026

Facts are friendly, Fiction is Fallacy

The truth will have no conceivable defence, where as a fictional narrative can always be confirmed as fallacy.

John: I believe that we can grow our gross revenue 10% over the next six years using this marketing strategy.

Harvey: Well, facts are friendly. until then, fiction is fallacy.

The definition of fact being an absolute truth, where as to define fallacy is to holding a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound arguments.

Facts are friendly, fiction is fallacy - would be defined as until you have evidence you are unable to make a case against the fallacy of your argument.

by Harrison T French October 20, 2018