WHY YOU ARE WRONG
For your convenience, I have highlighted the brain malfunction(s)
that most closely resemble(s) the one(s) you recently made on the
topic of (fill in topic): TRYING TO JUSTIFY ELITIST MINDSET
1. Amazingly bad Analogy
Example: Chickens and ducks do not go together, therefore, a
hokkien and hakka can never be together.
2. Faulty cause and effect
Example: On the basis of my observations, being in a good school
makes you smart
3. I am the world
Example: I do not like neighbourhood schools, therefore they have
little worth.
4. Ignoring everything science knows about the brain
Example: IQ is the thing that matters and makes us superior.
5. The few are the same as the whole
Example: Some normal tech students are smokers, some of them are
non-smokers, therefore normal tech students are hypocrites
6. Generalizing from self
Example: I am a liar, therefore I do not believe anything that you
say.
7. Argument by bizarre definition
Example: We are not snobbish or elitist, it's just that we do not
believe in mixing with people of lower classes.
8. Total logical disconnect
Example: I am a good person because I study alot.
9. Judging things without comparison to alternatives
Example: I think neighourhood school students are the worst in the
world, I don't believe in mixing with them.
10. Anything you dont understand is easy to do
Example: I know there isn't a textbook for it, but how hard can
being streetsmart or aware of reality be?
11. Ignorance of statistics
Example: We are the best in the world, we have no need for them
except slaves.
12. Ignoring the downside risk
Example: Sure, all this studying may dehumanize me and turn me into
something that can only be defined as human in the physical sense,
completely lacking in humility and epathy but I want full marks for
this test at any cost!
13. Substituting famous quotes for common sense
Example: Remember, Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent
perspiration." So don't think too much about how all this stuff is
revelant to us! Just mug mug mug!
14. Irrevelant comparisons
Example: All these paper qualifications may not make us real people
but at least we are not Saddam Hussien.
15. Circular reasoning
Example: I am correct because I am smarter and I am smarter because
I am correct.
16. Incompleteness as proof of defect
Example: Normal people from normal schools may be better human
beings then us but there are no paper qualifications to show for it
so it must not be possible.
17. Ignoring the advice of experts without a good reason
Example: I know what all the experts are saying on how being in a
top school, gathering tons of paper qualifications and mindless
studying does not make us well adjusted people but I have my own
theory on that.
18. Following the advice of known idiots
Example: Some dude in the gar'men said there would be genetic
dilution if we crossbred with lesser castes, and I'm gonna listen
to him!
19. Reaching bizarre conclusions without any information
Example: These people have no paper qualifications. They must be
simpleton ah bengs who hang out at far east with no personality
worthy of being defined as an individual.
20. Faulty pattern recognition
Example: I know that a snobbish attitude, trampling down the
"inferior" usually ends badly for the oppressors but I'm hoping
that we can try it here.
21. Failure to recognize whats important
Example: What? Why do you care that I am maladjusted, social inept
and have the personality of a snobbish self-annointed ruler of the
lesser people? I have paper qualifications and come from a good
school you know!
22. Unclear on the concept of sunk costs
Example: I know that we have given up a lot of what it means to be
a good person in our quest for elitism, but we can't stop now or
it'll all be wasted.
23. Overapplication of Occams Razor (Which says the simplest
explanation is usually right)
Example: The simplest explanation for people with no paper
qualifications is that they are individuals with no worth.
24. Ignoring all anecdotal evidence
Example: I know my girlfriend is not good in studies but they are
fantastic human beings who are every bit as human and intelligent
as you and me but they have no paper qualifications to prove it and
hence I'm going to break up soon..
25. Inability to understand that some things have multiple
causes
Example: Singapore's problems are all caused by people who are poor
in studies.
26. Judging the whole by one of its characteristics
Example: My mother has no paper qualitfications, therefore I would
be better off without them.
27. Blinding flashes of the obvious
Example: If we have more IQ, we are smarter.
28. Blaming the tool
Example: I have paper qualifications, I was rejected at the job
interview because I had no pratical skills. Therfore this paper
qualification must be defective.
29. Hallucinations of reality
Example: We from good schools are superior.
30. Taking things to their illogical conclusion
Example: If you treat these lesser people equally, the next thing
you know they'll be taking over our lives!
31. Failure to understand why logic dont have exceptions
Example: It should be okay to study like mad as long as I get the
paper qualifications at any cost and is not seriously dehumanized
in the process... right?
32. Proof by lack of evidence
Example: I have never seen you in a JC uniform, therefore you must
be a worthless person.
