Arbitrary Non-Correlation Fallacy

A common online debating tactic where someone dismisses a valid connection between two things by arbitrarily declaring them unrelated, often without evidence or reasoning. For example, when you point out that billionaires exist alongside homelessness, and someone responds that "those things have nothing to do with each other"—as if wealth accumulation and poverty exist in separate universes. The arbitrary non-correlation fallacy is the rhetorical equivalent of covering your ears and saying "la la la not connected." It's especially popular in discussions about systemic issues, where acknowledging connections would require acknowledging problems, which is inconvenient when you're trying to defend the status quo.

Example: "She posted a graph showing that as CEO pay skyrocketed, worker wages stagnated. The first comment was pure arbitrary non-correlation fallacy: 'Those two things aren't related. CEO pay is about talent and markets. Worker wages are about productivity. Different things.' She posted five studies showing the connection. He posted 'correlation isn't causation.' She posted the causation studies. He posted 'still not convinced.' The fallacy had done its job: preventing learning, preserving ignorance."

Arbitrary Non-Correlation Fallacy by Dumu The Void February 15, 2026