What is it?
A false analogy fallacy occurs when someone compares two things that share some similarities but differ in critical ways relevant to the argument. It assumes that because things are alike in some ways, they must be alike in other ways as well.
Examples
Person A: 'Running a country is just like running a business, so a successful CEO would make a great president.'
Person B: 'The human eye is complex like a camera, so it must have been designed just like cameras are.'
How to Avoid This
When making analogies, consider whether the similarities between the compared things are relevant to your point. Be aware of important differences that might undermine the comparison.
How to Counter This
Point out relevant differences: 'While these things share some similarities, they differ in important ways that make the comparison misleading, such as...'