Question

Tom is persuading his parents to let him borrow their new car. he says, "i know you're probably thinking i'm not trustworthy because i totaled my car, but i don't do drugs or drink and i could be out partying all night." tom's message isn't convincing to his parents because he is using what logical fallacy?

a. slippery slope
b. false-cause
c. either-or
d. red herring

Answer 1

I would say Red Herring. He is trying to draw his parents attention away from the real issue by saying "Yes, sure, I did THIS wrong, but look at what I do right." It does not matter how many rights you do, you cannot make a wrong ok by outweighing your bad deeds by your good. You have to deal with it face on.