Bigfoot Fallacies

Term:	Definition:	Quote(s):	Explanation:
Appeal to Ignorance	A misleading argument used in reliance on people’s ignorance.	“I am 67, retired RN & former private pilot with excellent vision- 20/15, so I was not mistaken”	She is certain of what she saw because of her past experience and that should be taken with legitimacy.
Faulty Cause	Assumes that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second	“Later in day I went out to that area with my small dog. She refused to even walk and was trembling. “	Since Bigfoot was there, her dog was afraid to walk in the same spot that he had.
Straw Man	An intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument.	“This is the same dog that almost went thru a screen door to attack the bear by our feeder a few weeks ago.”	Using an anxiety point about her dog being terrified in this incident when explaining that this is not his normal temperament.
False Equivalence	A particular word/expression in multiple senses throughout an argument leading to a false conclusion. I	“There are many snowmobile & ATV trails plus the Long Trail is only 1/5 miles. It was very wooded and remote. A few homes and camps on our road.”	The environment nearby is mentioned but has nothing to do with the creature itself.
Cum Hoc	Two things that happened at the same time must have a causal relationship.	“I noticed an area of bent weeds that would have been where the creature had exited our woods, going into a small ditch then back up to get onto road before walking past our drive. On the roadside, in the direction I saw it going, there were 3 barefoot heel depressions w/ faint toe marks approx. 12 inches long.”	There were tracks where the creature had moved and twigs were also heard snapping.