SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/cadet-fallacy-ad-hominem

Instead of answering your argument, someone insults you. Which logical fallacy is that?

Ad hominem, attacking the person instead of the argument.

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  1. Red herring
  2. Ad hominem ✔
  3. Slippery slope

Why: An ad hominem skips the logic of the other side and attacks the person instead. Besides being bad reasoning, it is just rude.

Huh, didn't know that: Ad hominem is Latin for 'to the man.'

The dad joke
My little brother was losing the debate, so he said my shoes were ugly. Classic ad hominem.
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References

Answer: Ad hominem. An ad hominem skips the logic of the other side and attacks the person instead. Besides being bad reasoning, it is just rude.

  1. Learn to Lead Volume 2, Chapter 5, Logical Fallacies (Civil Air Patrol) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Vol2LetterLowFinal_8BDFDB373E830.pdf
    Instead of focusing on the logic of an opposing argument, an ad hominem attacks the other person.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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