Red Herring Fallacy
Spot the Fallacy Team
Team Content
A red herring distracts from the original issue by introducing an irrelevant topic.
A red herring distracts from the original issue by introducing an irrelevant topic.
Why it is a fallacy
A claim needs evidence that connects the reasons to the conclusion. This fallacy skips that connection or replaces it with a shortcut.
Examples
- Why talk about pollution when taxes are the real issue?
- We should not discuss missed deadlines; the team worked hard.
- Can we address the bug? Actually, the UI design is the problem.
How to respond
- Bring the discussion back to the original question.
- Acknowledge the new topic but park it for later.
- Ask how the new point is relevant to the claim.
Related fallacies
FAQ
Is changing the topic always fallacious?
No, but it is fallacious when it avoids the main issue.
How do I respond to a red herring?
Politely redirect to the original claim before changing topics.
References
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fallacies)
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Logic and Critical Thinking)
- Nizkor Project (Fallacies)