Let's Spot The Logical Fallacies!

I get spam or crazy emails every day. Most of them are not even worth acknowledging, but I got one yesterday that I thought was perfect for a Logical Fallacy clinic. This guy first tried to post this message as a comment a few times, then sent an even longer version as the following email. What I'm going to do is post it and then you get to Name the Logical Fallacies!

I am an old guy who has lived in more places than most even visit, done more different types of things than most even consider doing, much actually less do. And I have had many more professions than most.

As a result, I am more more experienced and knowledgeable than most. I am also an Agnostic Atheist Activist who has been an Atheist for around 67 of my 75 years & an Atheist Activist for over fifty years.

I tell you these things so you will know I have more than a clue about the things I share.

While this is about SKEPTICS i have written many other things which should be of interest to REAL "Rational" and Critical Thinkers" (I am very sad to report MANY Atheists are NOT other neither rational or logical than on any subject other than that on the existence of one or more gods.)

Yes, being a Skeptic is great!

ONLY do NOT let your Skeptiism Over Ride your common sense and your use of rational, logical and critical thought as James Randi and some others have.

Randi and some skeptics think because they do not know of something. it can not exist, or be true. They totally fail to even consider the possibility some things which ONLY sound as if they are "too good to be true" may actually BE true.

As I grew up during WWII, the surrender of the Japanese ending it, seemed to be, to the entire world, "too good to be true"

During the Cold War, the 101st Airborne the Division I was a paratrooper in at the time, came very close to parachuting in to Berlin when the Russians were building the Berlin Wall. (We were in the aircraft on the runway with the engines running waiting tor the "GO" Order.)

Years later, when I watched the Berlin Wall being torn down, I can assure you, it seemed to be "Too Good To Be True"

Every week, there are people who win lotteries and I am sure when they do, it seems, it IS "Too Good T Be True" to them.

The point is that SOMETIMES, things which sound or seem, Too Good Too Be True, actually ARE TRUE!

Randi "et all" do not take the advice of Benjamin Franklin and Herbert Spencer who said: "To condemn without investigation is nothing but sheer foolishness."
Ben Franklin

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance.
This principle is condemnation without investigation." Herbert Spencer

So, DO NOT BE, as Randi is, A FOOL!

Do not dismiss really looking into, and researching something ONLY because you believe it SOUNDS as if it, MAY BE "Too Good To Be True"

You see, I KNOW James Randi has done this as he has done it to me!

I offered to spend $40.00 of my Social Security income to send Randi a bottle of a "miracle" to help him cure his flu he'd for weeks, Instead of Randi having an open mind and be willing to look at the facts concerning it, instead of his being willing to even try it, FOR FREE, the IDIOT just called it "Snake Oil"

While at the time, it had only been 8 (or more) years I'd been drinking and using it topically, it has now been over 13 years of my use & study. And even after all of this time, IT STILL AMAZES ME!

It IS a "Junior Miracle" when an highly intelligent & very experienced Agnostic Atheist Activist like me calls ANYTHING a "Miracle"

Yet, I KNOW what I've been drinking and when needed, using topically for OVER Thirteen Years IS an Natural Immune Boosting MIRACLE!

One which not only effectively treats illnesses and injuries on both the insides and the outsides or our bodies, it does the same for ALL other mammals, animals, reptiles & birds as well!!

It IS and HAS been doing great things for me ever since I started drinking it in Sept. of 1997. IF YOU WANT I can send you a description of them

ONE (of many) which happened as soon as I started (at age 62) was that ALL the Aches & Pains of OLD age were GONE! (and Still are)

Due to the very phenomenal success of the company I get mine from, many others jumped "on the band wagon" Thus, there are some 300 brands, it can be bought from health food stores, Cosco from other network marketing companies as well. (I sell if for what I pay for it.)

I do what I can to spread the word about it because, while I am a grumpy old man, I see no reason why people & pets, as well their livestock, should sufffer needlessly and/or die prematurely simply because they do not know of it.
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The above was the post in which I did not mention the name of this miracle as I figured anyone who wanted to know could contact me.
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I thank you for your time and may we all, "Live Long and Prosper!

Please, Take Care!

*Name deleted*

"A Pro Iraq War Agnostic Atheist Activist, 101st Airborne Vet and an Iconoclastic, Philosophizing, Beach VolleyBall Playing Grumpy Old Son Of A Beach!"

I really love Nature's Immune Boosting Healing "miracle" I've been drinking and using topically since September of 1979 when I was 62. (Studies show Noni Juice boosts your immune system over 150%!

Even after over 13 years of my use, Noni Juice Still, Just Totally AMAZES Me!

http://tni.com/110405 (Neece's Note: this is a site for Tahitian Noni juice. After a cursory look at the site, it is an MLM scheme)

A TEA PARTY Supporter

And a member of All of the following:

http://www.Atheists.org/
http://www.AtheistsUnited.org/
http://www.FFRF.org/
http://MAAF.info/
http://www.NRA.org/
http://VetsForFreedom.org/

~~~~~

If you want to really dissect it, feel free to email me your notes instead of leaving a comment.

9 comments:

  1. I've been drinking H2O all my life, and it never fails to amaze me at the way it rejuvenates me and reinvigorates me each time I drink it.

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  2. "Randi and some skeptics think because they do not know of something. it can not exist, or be true."

    Classic Strawman.

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  3. Oh my GOSH, Angie! That's AMAZING! I've been drinking H20 all of MY life too! It is a miracle, isn't it? It flushes toxins from my body and hydrates every single cell! Did you know you can bathe with it too?! Yes, you can!
    I get the finest H20 from a magical source unknown to everyone except the craftiest elves. You can buy my H20 then make money selling it at a 1000% markup! Doesn't that sound like a great deal!?

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  4. Just skimmed the article, and one fallacy I noticed is appeal to authority, or more correctly appeal to false/irrelevant authority. I fail to see how this guy's military experience makes him an expert on any kind of medical treatment, unless he was an Army doctor or something.

    But it probably doesn't really matter, because I suspect the article is just a fabrication anyway. It's probably sent to many different people with just a few tweaks here and there to appeal to different audiences.

    Also, on a side note, how can an atheist be a Tea Party supporter? It seems like they are largely comprised of evangelical Christians.

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  5. Excellent, Frans! Thanks very much! :)
    I agree, he's trying to sell his noni juice. Which is spam.

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  6. Exactly, Gerald, definitely an appeal to false authority. I thought that was hilarious that it says he's a tea party supporter and an atheist. Seriously? Does he even know what the hell he's writing? Or maybe in his copy paste to me he forgot to delete his tea party line for this target audience. Maybe that goes in a different version of his form letter for christian evangelicals.

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  7. Thanks GMN, excellent refutation. :)

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  8. [...] shared the other day really tickled my funny bone because it was so ridiculous though. Some of you commented with great rebuttals (thank you very much!), but I thought I’d go through it myself with the name of the logical [...]

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