Popular fallacies - The Nonsense Nine | English Idioms and Phrases

Definitions

discourage someone
Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit
criticize widely held beliefs or ideas
Point out and criticize common misconceptions or widely accepted ideas that are actually false or nonsensical
highlight common errors in thinking
Point out and criticize common errors in reasoning or thinking that many people tend to believe or follow

Examples of Popular fallacies - The Nonsense Nine

The coach insisted that the losing streak was purely due to bad luck, neglecting to consider the poor performance and lack of strategic planning of his team. This is an example of the fallacy known as "the gambling fallacy" or "the law of averages."

This fallacy, also known as the "gambler's fallacy," suggests that if an event has not happened for a while, it is more likely to occur. For instance, people sometimes believe that if heads have been showing on a coin flip for several times in a row, then tails is more likely to come up next. However, in reality, each coin flip is a separate and independent event, and the probability of getting heads or tails is 50-50 in each flip. This fallacy can lead to irrational decision-making, as the coach's belief that "bad luck" is more to blame for the losing streak could cause him to overlook other factors that are contributing to the team's struggles.
The sales manager claimed that the new marketing campaign would bring in a significant increase in sales, without any evidence to back up this claim. This is an example of the fallacy known as "the appeal to ignorance" or "the burden of proof."

This fallacy, also known as "ignorance of the alternative," suggests that a claim is true simply because it has not been proven false. For instance, some people believe that untested and unproven alternative medicine is effective because they have not seen any evidence to the contrary. However, in reality, the burden of proof lies with the person making the claim, and without evidence to support it, the claim is merely an assertion. This fallacy can lead to unwarranted and irrational beliefs, as in the sales manager's case, without any data to support the claim, it is merely an assumption.
The politician argued that his opponent's policy would have disastrous consequences, without any concrete evidence. This is an example of the fallacy known as "the appeal to emotion" or "the appeal to fear."

This fallacy, also known as "the argumentum ad misericordiam," suggests that a claim is true because it evokes strong emotions, such as fear or pity. For instance, some people argue against a particular policy because it "scares" them, implying that fear is a sufficient reason to reject the policy. However, in reality, the success of a policy should be evaluated based on its merits and drawbacks, not its emotional impact. This fallacy can lead to irrational decision-making, as in the politician's case, without any concrete evidence to support his claims, the politician is appealing to the emotions of his constituents to sway their opinion.
The scientist claimed that his hypothesis was valid, without considering alternative explanations. This is an example of the fallacy known as "the false dichotomy" or "the black-and-white thinking."

This fallacy, also known as "the bifurcated alternative," suggests that there are only two possible alternatives, when in reality, there are many alternatives. For instance, some people argue that there are only two options for a particular issue, when in reality, there are many alternatives that have not been considered. This fallacy can lead to a narrow-minded perspective, as the scientist's claim assumes that his hypothesis is the only possible explanation, without considering other alternatives.
The sales team believed that by simply cutting prices, they would increase sales. This is a classic case of the "Price is the only factor in a purchase" fallacy, also known as "A penny saved is a penny earned" or "The cheaper, the better".

This idiom describes the belief that the price of a product is the only factor that influences a customer's decision to make a purchase. However, this is not always true. Other factors, such as product quality, brand reputation, and customer experience, can be just as important. By focusing solely on price, a sales team may miss out on opportunities to differentiate their products and attract more high-value customers.
The software development team couldn't figure out why the app was crashing. They assumed that it was a hardware issue and suggested replacing the user's device. This is an example of the "Assuming the solution is a hardware upgrade" fallacy, also known as "A problem shared is a problem halved" or "The solution is just around the corner".

This idiom describes the tendency to assume that a technical issue is caused by hardware failure, rather than software bugs. This approach can lead to unnecessary delays and costs, as it may require replacing entire systems or devices. By investigating the issue more thoroughly and testing the software in various environments, a development team can often identify and resolve the problem without any hardware changes.
The marketing team was disappointed with the results of a new campaign. They decided to double down on the same approach, hoping that it would have a greater impact. This is an example of the "Desperately doing more of the same" fallacy, also known as "A problem well-stated is a problem half-solved" or "There's no time like the present".

This idiom describes the tendency to repeat unsuccessful strategies, rather than exploring new approaches. This behavior can be driven by a fear of taking risks, a lack of creativity, or a failure to assess the underlying causes of the problem. By taking a more strategic and collaborative approach, a marketing team can often develop more effective campaigns that address the root causes of the problem.
The project manager was confident that the team would meet the deadline, but several key milestones had already been missed. She decided to extend the deadline, assuming that it would buy the team more time to catch up. This is an example of the "Agreeing to an extension will fix everything" fallacy, also known as "A problem deferred is a problem solved" or "The bandage won't stick if you pull it off".

This idiom describes the tendency to extend deadlines as a way to address project delays. This approach can be driven by a desire to avoid disappointing stakeholders, a lack of planning or discipline, or a failure to communicate effectively. By taking a more proactive and collaborative approach, a project manager can often identify and address the root causes of the delay, rather than simply pushing out the deadline.

Conclusion

The idiom "Popular fallacies - The Nonsense Nine" is often used to discourage someone from a particular course of action by highlighting the lack of positive outcome. It can also be used to criticize widely held beliefs or ideas, pointing out common misconceptions or widely accepted ideas that are actually false or nonsensical. Additionally, it can be used to highlight common errors in thinking, pointing out and criticizing common errors in reasoning or thinking that many people tend to believe or follow.

Origin of "Popular fallacies - The Nonsense Nine"

The origin of the idiom "Popular fallacies - The Nonsense Nine" can be traced back to the concept of fallacies in logic and reasoning. The term "fallacy" refers to a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument. The "Nonsense Nine" likely refers to a specific set of widely held but false beliefs or ideas that are commonly accepted as true. The idiom may have originated from a specific list of nine fallacies that were widely recognized and criticized for their lack of logical reasoning or evidence.

The use of the idiom in discouraging certain actions or criticizing widely held beliefs may have evolved from the concept of identifying and debunking fallacies in reasoning. Over time, it has become a popular way to caution against following common misconceptions or to highlight errors in thinking. The idiom continues to be used in modern language to discourage certain behaviors and to point out flaws in widely accepted ideas.