A broader, often First World political version of the previous fallacy, where one dismisses scientific findings, theoretical frameworks, and even well‑established social science by appealing to an idealized “real life.” This rhetoric typically surfaces in debates about climate policy, public health, education, or social welfare: “Real life isn’t a textbook,” “People in the real world don’t care about theory,” “Real life is more complex than your models.” The fallacy is that it positions the speaker as a hard‑nosed pragmatist while using “real life” as a rhetorical shield to ignore evidence that challenges their preferred policies. It’s a favorite of politicians and pundits who want to appear grounded while rejecting expertise that inconveniences them.

“I Work with Real Life, not Science nor Theory” Example: “When confronted with studies on housing affordability, the candidate said ‘I work with real life, not science nor theory’—dismissing decades of urban research to justify developer‑friendly zoning.”

“I Work with Real Life, not Science nor Theory” by Dumu The Void March 23, 2026

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real-working

Actually working. To be contrasted with social networking.

Nick: Why did you de-activate your Facebook account?

Amanda: It took up so much time, and I needed to get some real-working done.

real-working by cherryblossom January 4, 2011

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