What is a Euphemism? (Kristin)


A neutral or positive expression
instead of one that carries negative
associations.
A few examples:
Correctional Facility – Prison
Downsize/Laid Off – Fired
Pleasantly Plump – Fat
Passed Away – Died
Pre-Owned – Used

Euphemism's make something sound
more appealing.
Dysphemisms


Dysphemisms are the opposite of Euphemisms.
These are used to produce a negative effect on a listener's or reader's
attitude toward something to tone down the positive associations it may
have.

Examples:
Cancer stick – Cigarette
Snail Mail – Postal mail
Pig – Policeman
Worm food – Dead person
A Fun Video Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJJUGJZxpU
Question for the class: Is this a good example of a
euphemism, or dysphemism, or something else?
What about this ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoErxolaEQs
Red Herring Logical Fallacy

Something that is brought up in conversation
that distracts from the original point,
especially if the new topic is introduced in
order to distract the person.
*Fun Fact: Why is this called “Red Herring?”
Because dragging a Red Herring across a trail will
cause a dog to leave the original trail and
follow the path of the herring.
Example: “You forgot to lock the front door
again!” Response: “You never listen to me.”
Example in Politics: What is called the “October
Surprise” is when something special happens
or information is released just before the
elections in November. The intent is to distract
voters from more serious issues.
Smoke Screen

Definition: An irrelevant topic or consideration introduced
into a discussion to divert attention from the original
issue.
Topics introduced into the discussion are relevant to the
topic but smoke screens tend to pile on issues or to make
them extremely complicated until the original topic is lost
in verbal “smoke.”
*A smoke screen is designed to
obscure , confuse or mislead
Innuendo
(Steph)
Innuendo
Definition: using words with neutral or positive
associations to insinuate something derogatory.
A hint or insinuation.
Allows for a person to say something about a person
without actually saying it.
Examples of Innuendo
“Can the mayor be trusted? You be the judge."
·
This implies without stating that the mayor cannot be
trusted.
“I heard they found him inside the bank at 2 a.m."
·
This implies that he was robbing or burglarizing the bank.
Maybe he was actually the janitor.
A Video Example:
Groucho Marx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ9J4M5xN3k
Logical Fallacies: Argument
from Popularity, Tradition, and
Common Practice
Argument from popularity (or appeal to popularity)
·
Urging someone to accept a claim (or falling prey to
someone’s doing it to us) simply on the grounds that all or
most or some substantial number of people believe it.
·
Substantial number of people not being authorities or
experts.
·
Two kinds of argument from popularity:
1. Tradition
2. Common practice
1. Argument from tradition (or appeal to tradition)
·
Attempting to convince someone that a claim is true or
that a practice is legitimate of the basis of tradition.
·
Tradition being an inherited, established, or customary
pattern of thought, action, or behavior.
2. Argument from common practice (or appeal to common
practice)
·
·
Justifying or defending an action or practice on the
grounds that it is common.
Common being of or related to a community at large.
Differences between the two
arguments from popularity
Common practice – “Everyone else is doing
it”, “Everyone speeds, so I shouldn’t get a
ticket.”
Tradition- “It’s always been done this way”
Wishful Thinking (Sara)
Defined As: Accepting a claim because the individual wants
or wishes for it to be true; or rejecting it because the
individual wants or wishes that it weren’t true.
Typically, Moral Subjective claims or beliefs, which is the
idea that what is right or wrong is merely a matter of
opinion, that thinking something is right or wrong makes
it right or wrong for that individual.
Often a belief by the individual, that if the individual will
gain from their belief, then this “gain” is a sufficient
reason to believe.
Wishful Thinking
Wishful Thinking begins with an individuals belief in P, their
belief in P can often be overestimated by their desire for it
to be true. Often overlooking evidence that may suggest
its falsity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRE4fNlNH1E
Ex: “I stand to gain natural healing power through
crystals.” “Hence, I should believe in crystal healing.”
In all reality, the crystal is merely a pretty rock, whether or
not it provides healing power is dependent on what the
independent facts are, not what the individual believes or
wishes to believe. Wishful thinking is never cogent in that
it does not provide evidence for its conclusion.
Stereotypes
Defined As: A generalization or assumption about all
members of a group that is based on an image of those in
the group. Such assumptions can/are developed by social
norms that is often supported by a prejudice, which is an
unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or
without knowledge, thought or reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h68UJaHvG_c
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/bill-oreillyhawaii-asians_n_2410563.html
Stereotypes
Stereotypes can also be categorized as Grouping Ambiguity's
(Fallacy of Division or Composition)In such instances,
stereotypes can be positive or negative. Ex: “All Asians
are good at math.”
Does not assess the “Asians” individual mathematical
competency.However, stereotyping is not always a
conscious reaction. Humans are constantly judging
situations and people that surround them to make a
decision whether the individual that is near them is a
potential threat.
Rationalizing
Defined As: When individuals use false pretense to
satisfy their own need. When we offer a “better”
or more acceptable reason for our actions,
instead of the actual reason. Is also described as
creating excuses for why we participate in certain
activities.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GarageValvoline?v=ABrJK8gNJ2U
Rational vs. Rationalizing
Rational is comprised of an individuals ability to make or
conclude to a sensible judgment. Ex: “ It’s chilly outside, I
should bring a jacket tonight.”
Rationalizing involves a confusion in thinking, allowing the
individual to become subdued by the real intention of
their action. Ex: “I’m going to learn Spanish so I can
impress this girl I met.”
-Eludes to the true motivation of why an individual does or says something.
Loaded Questions (Keith)
Definition: A question that rests on one or more
unwarranted or unjustified assumptions.
Don’t use because they tend to be negative and come
across as entrapment.
Example 1: “Have you stopped beating your wife?”
Tend to have an emotive and unspoken assumption.
Rhetorical Questions
Definition: Figures of speech in the form of questions that
are asked in order to make a point and without the
expectation of a reply.
Shouldn’t be used because they can simply persuade
someone to believe in a position.
Example 1: “Can’t you do anything right?”
Example 2: "And how many deaths will it take till we know,
that too many people have died?" Bob Dylan.
Two Wrongs Make a Right
Definition: A pattern of fallacious reasoning. “It’s
acceptable for A to do X to B because B would do
X to A”, said where A’s doing X to B is not
necessary to prevent B’s doing X to A.
Not good to use because it attempts to change or
distract from the issue.
Example 1: Since my parents cheat on taxes, I can
cheat on mine too.