Distraction Fallacy
Category: Logical Fallacy
What is it?
A distraction fallacy (also called red herring) occurs when someone introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention away from the original issue. It attempts to change the subject rather than addressing the argument at hand.
Examples
Person A: 'The company's environmental violations should be punished.'
Person B: 'But think about all the jobs the company creates in the community.'
How to Avoid This
Stay focused on the specific issue being discussed. If you find yourself bringing up unrelated points, ask yourself if you're avoiding the actual topic.
How to Counter This
Redirect to the original topic: 'That may be true, but it doesn't address the specific issue we were discussing, which is...'