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Noun: fail-acy

An attempt to characterize an argument as a fallacy that is itself a fallacy. That is, a failed fallacy.
A comment on a Guardian article about Ayn Rand says simply:

"And Ayn Rand was the ultimate hypocrite, relying on the state that she so despised to look after her in her final years."

A reply to that comment claims:

"This is the Ad Hominem Tu Quoque fallacy. This fallacy is committed when it is concluded that a person's claim is false because
1) it is inconsistent with something else a person has said, or
2) what a person says is inconsistent with her actions."

However, the original commenter never claimed Ayn Rand's claims were invalid, merely that she was a hypocrite. Therefore the claims that this is an "Ad Hominem Tu Quoque" fallacy is a failacy in itself. At best the original argument is a simple ad hominem fallacy, an attack against her person vs the argument. At worst it is a simple statement of fact and therefore the "Tu Quoque" claim is a Straw Man fallacy - an attack against a mischaracterization of the opponent's argument.
by Moschops April 16, 2017
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Sep 12 Word of the Day
Anatidaephobia is defined as a pervasive, irrational fear that one is being watched by a duck. The anatidaephobic individual fears that no matter where they are or what they are doing, a duck watches.

Anatidaephobia is derived from the Greek word "anatidae", meaning ducks, geese or swans and "phobos" meaning fear.
A:dude, Anatidaephobia is the coolest phobia ever!
B:quack!
by blank babushka October 24, 2009
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