Appeal to Pity: Difference between revisions

** One common subtype is [[Think of the Children]], in which the subject of the argument is claimed to adversely affect children. This works not only because it appeals to people's natural instinct to protect children, but because it implies that anyone who disagrees is [[Jerkass|a big meanie]] [[Child-Hater|who hates children]].▼

** Writers can intentionally or unintentionally create a [[Draco in Leather Pants]] using this trope with even a modest [[Freudian Excuse]].▼

** Researchers have shown that the best predictor of the outcome of a malpractice lawsuit in the United States is not whether there is evidence that the physician actually erred, but the status of the patient. For example, (in the US) if a newborn has a malformation, the odds of an award are distressingly high, even when there is no evidence that the cause is anything except bad luck. Obstetricians have absurdly high malpractice insurance as a result, and that cost is picked up ultimately by the patients.▼

**In the ''[[Firefly]]'' episode "Safe", when his sister is accused of being a witch Simon said, "She's just a troubled girl". Of course being a troubled girl does not in itself preclude someone being a witch; in fact for all we know demons might ''prefer'' to exploit troubled girls making it have a [[Fridge Logic|certain amount of sense]] (assuming both witches and demons exist of course) that a witch would be a troubled girl. In point of fact Simon was trying to save his sister's life, not give a philosophy lecture, so if this argument worked it was practical just not valid.▼