Name this fallacy?

apeZ · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:36

I believe this is a fallacy.

A: David Beckham is a rubbish footballer.
B: But you can't play football like him.

I dont know if this would fall under ad hominem, but I thought there was a particular name for this argument, where you imply that someone's comment does not hold value because they have no personal experience of it?

A similar sort of example.

A: Life must be horrible for the Haitian people.
B: How do you know? You aren't one of them.

Anyone know if there's an actual name for this fallacy? It's not for homework or anything, just curiosity!

Strife212 · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:40

A: I believe this is a fallacy.
B: But you can't name the fallacy.

G-MAN2004 · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:42

Strife212 said:
A: I believe this is a fallacy.
B: But you can't name the fallacy.

muon · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:43

Why is it a fallacy. It depends on entirely how you define "rubbish". On a linear scale then it would be a contradiction in that "rubbish" is achievable by most people.

edit: or am I misinterpreting the question.

apeZ · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:45

Strife212 said:
A: I believe this is a fallacy.
B: But you can't name the fallacy.

Damn you.

The Halk · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:56

A: Life must be horrible for the Haitian people.
B: How do you know? You aren't one of them.

I think statement B is correct. You are making an assumption (a fairly well founded one though) that life in Haiti is not enjoyed by the people there.

DRZ · 17 Jan 2011 at 00:58

The Halk said:
A: Life must be horrible for the Haitian people.
B: How do you know? You aren't one of them.

I think statement B is correct. You are making an assumption (a fairly well founded one though) that life in Haiti is not enjoyed by the people there.

Thats a ridiculous statement to make! You could sit down and interview every single Haitian (or a representative sample) and form a fairly accurate picture of what life was like for them. Your results wouldn't be discredited solely because you yourself were not Haitian.

The Halk · 17 Jan 2011 at 01:00

Ah, yes. I should have said A is wrong but that doesn't make B right.

BananaDunka · 17 Jan 2011 at 01:02

A: The statement below is incorrect.
B: The statement above is correct.

Energize · 17 Jan 2011 at 04:21

It's a form of "ignoratio elenchi", ignorance of refutation. It's when someone tries to counter an argument by coming out with something that may be true but is completely irrelevant to the original assertion. Specifically in this case it's a red herring because it's a deliberate attempt to divert the conversation.

SlyReaper · 17 Jan 2011 at 06:52

apeZ said:
A: David Beckham is a rubbish footballer.
B: But you can't play football like him.
A: Actually yes I can, watch this. *punts ball into goal from three miles away*

Fixed

But yeah, that probably falls under "ad hominem" because B is attacking the person rather than the statement.

Metatron · 17 Jan 2011 at 07:40

It's not a fallacy.

markweatherill · 17 Jan 2011 at 08:10

It's either a Straw Man or a Ponzi Scheme, I am not sure which.

Dolph · 17 Jan 2011 at 08:20

It's a variation of the Tu Quoque fallacy, or a red herring, depending on the exact approach used.