Many Questions
Category: Logical Fallacy
What is it?
The fallacy of many questions (also called a complex question or loaded question) occurs when someone asks a question that contains an embedded assumption, forcing the respondent to accept the assumption in order to answer the question directly.
Examples
Person A: 'Have you stopped cheating on tests?'
Person B: 'Why do you continue to support policies that harm the environment?'
How to Avoid This
Separate your questions from your assumptions. Ask neutral questions that don't presuppose a particular answer or force the respondent to accept unstated premises.
How to Counter This
Identify and challenge the embedded assumption: 'Your question assumes I've been cheating, which I haven't. I can't stop something I never started.'