https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94 By Patrick Wilson, working individually en-us 2018-03-02 22:03:38 UTC 2025-11-02 04:50:09 UTC hello@padlet.com patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237627889 By Patrick Wilson]]> 2018-03-02 22:09:36 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237627889 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237636126 Definition:
Confirmation bias is a very common tendency to seek out answers or retain information in keeping with one's pre-existing or desired beliefs, as well as to discount evidence contrary to the previously held or desired viewpoint. In the political world, this is a common trope to justify one's political campaign or argue points, fallacious or not, that undermine competitors.
Connection:
The following link is descriptive of the Barack Obama "birther" conspiracy theory, where various political opponents have used former US president Barrack Obama's ethnicity and Muslim name to argue that he was not, in fact, born in the United States (and therefore not able to be president). There is no evidence supporting these claims, and much evidence debunking them, but many still believe because it affirms their views.
https://www.politico.com/story/2011/04/birtherism-where-it-all-began-053563

]]> 2018-03-02 23:29:38 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237636126 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237637647 Definition:
Appeal to authority is a tactic employed by someone who is either not an authority figure, or whose authority does not pertain to or constitute evidence on the subject. An authority is presented, or presents themselves, to provide evidence on the basis of their own supposed "expertise," rather than on the basis of empirical evidence.
Connection:
The following video is one of a series from a YouTube channel called "PragerU,"  which features a variety of Conservative guest speakers who provide "alternative facts" to debunk scientific consensuses contrary to the goals of the Conservative party, as well as to discourage abortion, promote capitalism and nationalism, downplay the racial divide in the US, and so on and so forth. The "experts" that feature in each episode provide independently founded (contrived) statistics that differ completely from established scientific conclusions. The name PragerU itself is an appeal to authority, as it implies that it is an accredited university or learning institution, which it is not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwqIy8Ikv-c

]]> 2018-03-02 23:57:01 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237637647 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237641509 Definition:
Proof by verbosity is a method of subduing an ideological opponent by inundating them with rhetoric, deliberately obtuse statements, or even with so many arguments at once that they can't hope to respond to it all. This tactic is typically employed by those who aren't seeking to prove their side on the basis of evidence, but rather to appear to win because they made it impossible for their opponent to effectively provide a retort.
Connection:
The following YouTube video is a compilation taken from the 2012 presidential debate between Mitt Romney and Barrack Obama. The purpose of the video is to demonstrate the concept of proof by verbosity or "Gish Galloping." In the video, Mitt Romney attempts to swamp Obama with false arguments, straw man fallacies, and half-truths in such a manner that it becomes impossible for him to provide a retort to all of the presented information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnyuub6x7u4

]]> 2018-03-03 00:51:44 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237641509 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237642667 2018-03-03 01:06:22 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237642667 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237642673 2018-03-03 01:06:24 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237642673 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237738008 Definition:
The Ancient Wisdom red flag occurs when a person chooses to believe in ancient traditions and information, particularly over newer (and usually more verified) versions of such. One very common example of this is traditional medicine, which often includes a mix of old and new spiritually-driven components, and is not scientifically valid.
Connection:
The following link is an article marketing a mineral called cinnabar. In the article, various claims are made as to its healing powers, including but not limited to: healing sexual or fertility issues, blood disorders, staph or bacterial infections, weight issues, boils, and more. Cinnabar has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to aid in these, and many more conditions. The reality of the matter, however, is that cinnabar is a mineral sulfate of mercury, and is therefore incredibly toxic. There are no known medical benefits to imbibing mercury of any kind, and mercury poisoning is a serious medical condition that often results in death. Amazingly, cinnabar products are still commonly sold.
https://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/cinnabar.html

]]> 2018-03-03 22:23:11 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237738008 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237739108 Definition:
Suppression by authorities is the belief that (usually) governmental or corporate entities are using their power to suppress the truth on a subject. The motivations given are usually selfish in nature; power, money, etc. 
Connection: 
Below I have attached a link to the website for a group called the Flat Earth Society. This society has existed since the early 1800's, and rejects the proven notion that the earth is flat. The basis of the belief behind this group is a mixture of theology and conspiracy theory. On the society's website, they discredit the testimony of everyone from astronauts, to NASA, to commercial airline passengers. The most popular theory by them seems to be that the US faked the moon landing, realized they couldn't land on the moon because we live in a fixed dome, and have been stuck maintaining the charade ever since.]]> 2018-03-03 22:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237739108 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237746602 Definition:
Patternicity is used to describe the natural tendency of people to seek and observe patterns, and even to create patterns where none exist. 
Connection:
Below is a picture of what I believe is one of the most common examples of patternicity. The "man in the moon" has been noted by many cultures in many different ways for a very long time. Because of our patternicity, there are stories about the man in Norse, Talmudic, Haida, Chinese, and African mythology and tradition. 

]]> 2018-03-04 01:33:51 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237746602 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237748099 Definition: 
Emotional connection can cause us to believe things because we want them to be true, rather than based upon any evidence.
Connection: 
Many people who experience loss look for a way to believe that the person they loved still lives on in some fashion, or is still with them. Below is a picture of a seance, which is an attempt to commune with spirits or a specific spirit (usually with the assistance of a medium.

]]> 2018-03-04 02:05:55 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237748099 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237749115 Definition:
Simplicity is the tendency of people to choose the simplest explanation to a question. 
Connection: 
The antiquated theory of spontaneous generation is a great example of simplicity. At one point, there was no way of determining where things like fleas and mold came from; therefore, people decided that they merely popped into existence. 

]]> 2018-03-04 02:31:47 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237749115 patrick_666 https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237859323 2018-03-04 21:59:17 UTC https://padlet.com/patrick_666/le3ehrtx5n94/wish/237859323