Appeal to Popularity: Difference between revisions

:: The appeal to popularity is built around the belief that something is true (or false) because a lot of people believe it is. This is fallacious because it confuses whether an idea is ''justified'' with whether it is ''accepted''. Demonstrating widespread support for something only proves it is popular, not that it is true.

 

'''Bob:''' Bah, it's just propaganda. If it were really bad for you, why would millions of people do it, hm? }}

 

::This is the standard version; the belief that a large group is incapable of being incorrect. The fallacy can also be inverted, however, with popularity being taken as a sign something is ''wrong'':

 

'''Alice:''' Geez, get with the times, The Band suck since they sold out and went mainstream. }}