Freedom of Choice and other Fallacies
Wikipedia says:
“A fallacy is incorrect argumentation in logic and rhetoric reasoning resulting in a misconception or presumption.”
The next time you see an internet poll, notice the choices; there will likely be at least 3: One for, one against and one so idiotic that it’s just taking up space. Look at the list of candidates on your next presidential ballot; same thing.
Which poll item or presidential candidate will you choose?
You’ll probably choose the item or candidate that’s most popular. And you’ll feel good about it because you believe in freedom and democracy.
Problem is: You didn’t actually choose anything. Whoever constructed the poll or campaigned the hardest already made the choices for you. Your part in the process means nothing.
Think about it – when the poll was constructed, there were three choices but only two were valid and only one of those made the most sense. And that choice is the one most beneficial to the company or person who constructed the poll. The presidential ballot is no different. There’ll be at least two candidates who stand head and shoulders above the rest with one standing taller than the other, at least one fringe candidate or underdog and one or more who don’t stand a chance.
When you go to an appliance store to purchase a new refrigerator, there’ll be a dozen or more models on display. As you walk in the door, front and center will be their most popular model, followed by the clearance models and then everything else. Which one are you most likely to choose? Probably the most popular model. So who really made the choice?
The fact is, the majority of important choices we make in our lives are fed to us by someone else and end up benefitting whoever provides us with the choices more than us.
The poll was constructed to steer the voter towards one particular choice over the others. But even if YOU didn’t pick the most popular one, the most popular one still wins.
Even if you voted for the underdog in the presidential election, the frontrunner will still win because they’re the frontrunner. They campaigned the hardest.
Whether you buy the most popular model of refrigerator or the more obscure one in the back corner of the store, the store still wins because they profit no matter what model you buy.
Be aware of the choices others provide for you. Look for balance and always know that in compromise, the scales are usually tilted in their favor. The game is rigged.
By Paul Short on 25/11/2011
Share "Freedom of Choice and other Fallacies" with your friends!
