http://www.fallacydetective.com/news/ In 1999 we started publishing the "Fallacy in the News" email list. Here are the archives. en hansbluedorn@pm.me Copyright 2020 2020-02-06T17:02:00+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/on-writing https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/on-writing#When:17:02:00Z Manybooks.net has asked Hans Bluedorn some questions on writing and his creative process.   What have you been working on lately?   After writing The Fallacy Detective and The Thinking Toolbox, I spent a few years trying to write another book on logic. That didn’t happen, so decided to write something very different—a story about friendship. It’s called Archer and Zowie. It’s a sci-fi story for middle grade readers. It’s about aliens, outer space, and how to be friends with someone different from you.   What inspired you to write about two kids who build a rocket ship out of a treehouse? When I was a kid, there was a grassy field behind our house. I would wander around out there and explore. Sometimes I would think about what was on the other side of the field, where I wasn’t allowed to go. As long as I never went there, it could have been anything—my imagination was the limit. Why is friendship such a big theme throughout this book?   I think learning to be a friend is a big part of growing up. Your parents can show you HOW to be a friend, but you have to do it yourself. That’s why the parents aren’t shown in the book. The kids are on their own, navigating the darker parts of their personalities together.   What drew you to sci-fi? It just naturally comes out. If I tried writing historical fiction I would get bored and just stick an alien in there somewhere. Astronomy and astrophysics draw me in. The stars are at the furthest reaches of our understanding, kind of like that field behind my house. They are in a place where science and imagination meet. What advice would you give to your younger self? Writing is a war of attrition. Sit down in the same place and do the same thing every day. Some days nothing happens, some days a little bit happens. A little bit is usually all you should hope for. Just give it your maximum effort, and keep your expectations low. What’s an aspect of being a writer that you didn’t know about going in? Archer and Zowie took me 9 years to finish. That is a long time. I worked on it for hours almost every day of those 9 years. It was pretty rough. I felt like I was going crazy. It’s hard to tell how long a writing project will take to complete. Every time you write, you’re doing something that hasn’t ever been done before. You are reaching into uncharted territory, a place beyond the stars. But if you do it, it will change you. Make you a different person. I think it is a good thing to head straight into our doubts and fears carrying a headlamp with fresh batteries. Of all the characters in Archer and Zowie, who was the most difficult to create? Each character in Archer and Zowie is inspired by somebody that I know. It took me a while to figure out who the Teleportee was. I needed an antagonist to get angry at, but also relate to. Eventually, I figured out who that was in my life. (I won’t say who it was, haha). One big thing I learned about character is that it always takes time for the character to develop in your mind and on the page. Is there an message you wanted to relay about human nature through your characters? A theme that occurs a lot in Archer and Zowie is metamorphosis—something changing from one thing to something different. Many things in Archer and Zowie undergo a metamorphosis—from the microwave, to the penguin aliens, to Zowie herself. I kept thinking about how we never really see ourselves. We can see ourselves in a mirror, or see parts of our bodies, or even hear other people’s opinions of us, but we can’t really see ourselves—objectively and truly. Sometimes we need to find a way to see ourselves from the outside looking in, and like who that is. When that happens—we undergo metamorphosis. Which one of your characters do you think you would get along with the most? What about the least? If you know me at all, you will quickly figure out who Archer and Zowie are in my life. A good half of the things Archer and Zowie say to each other comes word for word from conversations between my wife and I. Most of my friends are very different from me—my wife is a perfect example. That might be because I find people similar to me to be a bit boring. They’re just a copy of me—what is there to talk about!?   Do you have any interesting writing habits? Pen or laptop, best time of the day to write, sources of inspiration? I sit down in my back yard, drink a cup of coffee and stare off into space for a while. In about 5 minutes the ideas start to come. Or they don’t. No matter, I just keep daydreaming until I feel like the well is dry. Sometimes I write stuff down on my phone, but sometimes I let it sit in my head for a while before writing it down. What are you working on right now? Collecting ideas for another book (possibly a sequel). We recently moved to Durango, Colorado so I’m also doing a lot of climbing. Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you? Check out Archer and Zowie on Amazon. I also have a website: http://www.hansbluedorn.com Featured, 2020-02-06T17:02:00+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/wholesale-discount https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/wholesale-discount#When:21:17:00Z We recieve orders by email (info@fallacydetective.com).We offer 40% discount on orders of four or more of one title. Please send us your name, address, phone number, email, and the titles and quantities you wish to order. We will send you an invoice. You may pay directly from the invoice. We accept checks or credit card. As soon as we receive your payment, we will ship your titles. After your first order, we offer thirty-day terms on future orders. We will replace all products which arrive to you in damaged condition. We do not accept returns on items sold wholesale.For shipping, please provide us with your UPS billing code, if you have one. We will replace all products which arrive to you in damaged condition. We do not accept returns on items sold wholesale.         Product     Media     Retial Price         The Fallacy Detective ISBN 978-0-9745315-7-1     quality paperback     $25.00         The Thinking Toolbox ISBN 0-9745315-1-0     quality paperback     $25.00         Hand that Rocks the Cradle ISBN 978-0-9745315-4-0     quality paperback     $15.00         Logic in 100 Minutes ISBN 0-9745315-2-9     digipac DVD     $15.00               Order Items of Same Title     Discount off Retail Price         1-3     none         4-99     40%         100-499     45%         500 or more     50%     2017-01-09T21:17:00+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/movie-survey https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/movie-survey#When:19:19:00Z A religious organization named "Faith Driven Consumer" recently polled it’s subscribers: "SURVEY: Noah Movie Controversy? As a Faith Driven Consumer, are you satisfied with a Biblically themed movie – designed to appeal to you – which replaces the Bible’s core message with one created by Hollywood? Yes/No" http://www.faithdrivenconsumer.com/controversy_over_noah_movie This organization found that 98% of its supporters answered "No" – 98% said they were dissatisfied with the upcoming Noah movie. What logical fallacy is used in this survey question? Read this Short List of Fallacies if you want to learn about fallacies: http://www.fallacydetective.com/articles/read/short-list-of-fallacies Answer Loaded Question: Where someone asks one question which assumes the answer to a second question. Neighbor: “Why do you like to disturb the neighborhood by playing your music so loud everybody can hear it a mile away?” [Does the neighbor really like to disturb the neighborhood?] Judge: “Have you stopped beating your poor dog yet?” [Has he ever begun beating his dog?] How would you re-write the question in this survey to make it not a loaded question? Fallacies, 2014-02-21T19:19:00+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/letter-to-miss-maleys-seventh-grade-class https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/letter-to-miss-maleys-seventh-grade-class#When:03:35:00Z Our readers asked us (Hans and Nathaniel) what we are up to these days. Are we writing another logic book? Are we living it up on Malibu beach? No! And, maybe. Recently Miss Maley’s logic class in Grove City, PA sent us a package of letters. This was very touching. Here is Hans’ response: Dear Miss Maley’s Seventh Grade Class, We got all of your letters and very much enjoyed reading them. So, you guys want us to come talk to your class? Let me give you an idea of where I live in relation to Grove City, Pennsylvania. For about 26 years I lived here: Then I got married and moved here: (By the way, I’m drawing these pictures from memory, so pardon if they aren’t completely geographically correct.) Then I got bored of only seeing cornfields, and so I moved. So this is the situation, now: As you can see. There is a lot between me and you. I live in a small town in southern California called Elizabeth Lake. This town is so small it doesn’t have anything but houses. It doesn’t have a grocery store, or a gas station, or a movie theater, or a jail, or a guitar shop, or an ant farm or anything. It is near this town though: Elizabeth Lake has a pile of hills, a mountain, and a lake. The town was actually named after a girl, named Elizabeth, who tripped and fell into the lake. Then everyone laughed at her. They must have laughed really hard since they named a lake AND a town after her. This is what Elizabeth Lake looks like: The reason why I’m telling you all this is to show you the first reason why I can’t come to your class. It’s three thousand miles away. A long ways to walk. A few years ago, a group of people called the "Donner Party" tried to make it, and most of them died or had a very unpleasant time. The other reason I can’t come to talk to your class is that I am a rather boring speaker. Whenever I get in front of a crowd I can’t think of anything useful to say. So I just stand there and stare. I doubt you would like me to come all that way to Pennsylvania and just stand in front of your class and glare at you. That would be awkward. This is what it would look like: I know that picture makes you look like you are in kindergarten, but I’ve never actually seen you guys so I’m just drawing what I imagine kids look like. So, you may ask, what am I doing in Elizabeth Lake, California? I’m drinking coffee . . . and rock climbing . . . and canyoneering . . . and drinking more coffee . . . and mountain biking . . . and being bit by rattlesnakes . . . and shot at by gangsters . . . . . . oh, and I’m writing a story. My story is about two kids who crash land on an alien planet by accident and then get into a big argument about it. It’s kind of an autobiography. So, what is my brother Nathaniel up to? He is also writing a story, but his story is different than mine. His story is about the synthesis of sympathy culture and the future of fiction based communication in civilizations. Oh, and he wanted me to use the word "meta-narrative" somewhere. This is Nathaniel writing his story on the beach. I don’t think it will sell very well. This is my wife, Desi. She is the most awesome girl. This is her breaking cement bricks in half using only her mind. She can do other cool things, too. Like make cookies. So. I think I’ve mostly run out of things to talk about, and I’m tired of drawing all these little pictures. Maybe If you guys had actually asked me some QUESTIONS, instead of just giving me reasons why I should come see you, I would have more to say. 😊 Actually. Seriously. Thanks for all the letters. They were a big encouragement to us. If we’re out east anytime this year I’ll drop by and check you guys out. Sincerely, Hans Bluedorn Featured, 2012-08-24T03:35:00+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/the-bully-the-bullied-and-the-bystander https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/the-bully-the-bullied-and-the-bystander#When:02:12:38Z WARNING: This lesson plan uses videos which contain violence and adult language. Teachers will want to preview these before choosing to show them to their students. The critical thinking tools in this lesson plan will help students recognize bullying and know how to deal with this destructive behavior.  1. A BULLY is anyone who inflicts physical or psychological pain on a less powerful person they feel contempt for, and threatens further pain if the bullied person tries to defend himself. Grandma on a Bus DISCUSSION: Who in this video is bullying? Why do the kids on this bus have power over the older lady? What do you think the kids feel towards her? Are they just teasing her? What benefit are these kids getting from bullying this older lady? What do these kids do when she tries to defend herself?  2. A BULLIED PERSON is anyone who feels powerless to defend himself, or get justice for the pain a bully has inflicted on him. Girl in Belgium DISCUSSION: Why does the autistic girl sitting on the curb not walk away or call for help? What does she try to do? What might she be thinking or feeling?  Being attacked by a bully does not necessarily mean you are a bullied person. You may feel confident you can defend yourself. Maybe you’re a black belt in karate and the bully is about to find out! A bullied person is someone who has lost the creative ability to know how to defend himself. Even if he is physically stronger, or should know how to call for help, a bullied person is in a mental space that blocks his ability to fight back. Big Boy and Little Boy DISCUSSION: Why do you think the little boy felt he could bully the big boy? Why didn’t the big boy fight back at first? Was it right for the big boy to fight back? Would you fight back if you were being punched, or would you just take the punches? Why do some people not fight back?  3. A BYSTANDER is anyone who sees another person being hurt or in pain, and does nothing. The Bystander Effect DISCUSSION: What would you think or feel if you walked past a person on the ground who might need help? Would you act differently than the bystanders in this video? Why? What might cause you to act the same way they do?  4. A WITNESS is anyone who sees another person being hurt or in pain and interferes to protect the victim, or gets help. Girl Abducted in Public DISCUSSION: Did you notice how two men at the end of this experiment (and a woman in the background) try to help? What was different about their attitude towards what they saw was happening to the little girl? Why did they act, while others on the street did not?  5. The most important thing a victim can do is TELL OTHERS. If you feel you may be the victim of a bully (your boss, a youth pastor, a cyberbully, someone at home, etc.), you need to find someone you can talk to. You may feel afraid that no one will care - because many people don’t want to get involved, and many will accuse you of “playing the victim” - but you NEED to find someone who believes you. You need to take this risk.  DISCUSSION: What can a girl do if she feels everyone will tattletale if she tells them what is happening? What can a boy do if his parents do nothing but tell him to stop being a wimp? What are some things that bullied people tell themselves? (I should appease my bully. I should run away. If I show enough love he will stop. I deserve it. Etc.)  This article is based on a book “The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander” (http://www.amazon.com/The-Bully-Bullied-Bystander-ebook/dp/B003JBHVUE). Read this book if you want to learn more. You can also watch the recent documentary “Bully” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1g9RV9OKhg). Thinking Tools, 2012-08-24T02:12:38+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/whos-on-first https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/whos-on-first#When:18:07:29Z Below we’ve linked to a video of Abbot and Costello’s famous "Who’s on First?" comedy routine: Abbot and Costello fail to communicate. Each of them makes sense to himself, but the other guy doesn’t get it. This is okay - it happens to all of us. What makes this skit funny and ridiculous is that neither of them is able to change the way he speaks. They say the same thing over and over, hoping the other guy will eventually understand. Have you done this? Also, Abbot and Costello commit a fallacy in this video. What is the name of this fallacy? Dear Hans and Nathaniel, You have some celebrity status here in Western NY. My classes and I talk about you all the time. The word on the street is that Logic is their favorite class. This is the second year I have taught a logic class and this year I have two classes. Every one has been a blessing. Thanks for writing such a fun book, and for keeping up the website that goes along with it. I just found Laura Xentara’s bread test. I know the kids will have fun studying for the final with these new examples. Linda Fallacies, 2010-06-15T18:07:29+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/oops-in-saudi-arabia https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/oops-in-saudi-arabia#When:23:47:12Z These events recently happened at a Starbucks in Saudi Arabia. (Sent to us by Perla Adams) 2010-04-07T23:47:12+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/obama-avoids-question https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/obama-avoids-question#When:06:23:50Z Avoiding the Question is a common fallacy. People do this a lot! NEWS REPORTER CODY: Senator Bill, do you think Senate Bill 747 will save money? SENATOR BILL: Well, Cody, I just want to say the healthcare system in America is broke. Just yesterday I was walking downtown and I met this homeless guy. He was homeless, but even more, he was without heathcare! I think he needs help. Until America wakes up, we’re all in trouble! Notice how Sentator Bill ignores Cody’s question. He talks about something else - what he wants to talk about. He says nothing about Senate Bill 747. If News Reporter Cody asked Senator Bill about the space program, Senator Bill would give the same answer. Fox News Interviews President Obama Fox News asks President Obama questions in this beginning of this video, but Obama avoids the questions. What is a question Obama avoids in this video? Fox News Interviews Rush Limbaugh Fox News asks Rush Limbaugh questions in this video, but Limbaugh answers different questions. What is a question Limbaugh avoids in this video? Has anyone ever avoided a question you asked? Do you think it is okay to hijack a conversation to say what you want? Fallacies, 2010-03-20T06:23:50+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/the-fallacy-detective-mini-edition-for-lego-people https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/the-fallacy-detective-mini-edition-for-lego-people#When:18:12:13Z These pictures of “The Fallacy Detective - Mini Edition for Lego People” were sent to us by Perla de Adams. Fallacies, 2010-03-15T18:12:13+00:00 https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/bread-fallacy-quiz https://www.fallacydetective.com/news/read/bread-fallacy-quiz#When:00:59:35Z (This test was created by Laura Xentaras (copyright 2009) and edited by Nathaniel Bluedorn.) Name the fallacy in each example below: 1. Bread is bad for you because it contains things that aren’t good for you. 2. According to polls, 98% of Americans believe bread is the primary cause of obesity. 3. Jesus said he is “the bread of life.” We shouldn’t touch other kinds of bread if we want to call ourselves Christians. 4. President Obama says we should eat two slices of bread every day. But he’s a Democrat. He can’t possibly know what he’s talking about. 5. Either you become addicted to eating bread and die, or you don’t eat it at all. Choose wisely or suffer the consequences. 6. Why do you want to torment me with your blatant bread-eating? 7. The Assyrians, one of the most violent civilizations, were among the first to bake and consume bread. Unless we want to become like them, we should not eat bread. 8. Since bread is obviously bad for us, we should avoid water as well. Everyone knows bread is made with flour and water. 9. According to Mrs. Xentaras - the lady at the post office - bread consumption by children lowers their score on the IOWA test. We should keep children from all forms of bread. 10. Of course we shouldn’t follow Mrs. Xentaras’s advice. I saw her eating a bread soup bowl on her lunch break. 11. All people with last names that start with an “X” are hypocrites. Mrs. Xentaras told us not to eat bread, and then she ate bread herself. Bread Fallacy Quiz Answers: (1) Circular Reasoning, (2) Appeal to the People, (3) Equivocation, (4) Ad Hominem, (5) Either-Or, (6) Loaded Question, (7) Genetic Fallacy, (8) Whole-to-part, (9) Faulty Appeal to Authority, (10) Tu Quoque, (11) Hasty Generalization. Fallacies, 2010-01-22T00:59:35+00:00