This deception often presents an argument so horrible that it is an unacceptable alternative, and the speaker's argument is presented as the only alternative. "Ebola virus has been accidentally released in Merryman Corporation research facility in Maryland. One way to destroy it is to drop a nuclear bomb on the facility. Another alternative is to accept the proposal of the Paladin Corporation to take over supervision of the contract granted to the Merryman Corporation. Paladin estimates that they can decontaminate it with lethal gas for a mere ten million dollars." * The "domino theory" deception. The domino theory deception makes the claim that if one thing happens another will invariably follow. "If South Vietnam falls to the Communists, every other nation in Southeast Asia will follow, including Australia." * The "two wrongs make a right" deception. "It is all right to execute prisoners because South Africa does it too." Emotional tactics. * The "attack the speaker" diversion. This fallacy is known as the Ad Hominem fallacy. "The mayor proposes opening a day care center for city hall employees. The mayor was once divorced. The mayor is not competent to make family decisions." The mayor's willingness to please his employees and his administrative competence are diverted with a personal attack. * The "commonly accepted practice" deception. This deception often is designed to make an action seem biased or prejudicial. "It is common practice to replace computers in business every five years. The military even has a policy to that effect ." * The "appeal to pity" tactic. "If welfare recipients are required to work, many recipients will not be able to watch television as much." * The "infallible truth or cliche" deception. "This meal is not well seasoned. Too many cooks spoil the soup." The emotional tactics often include cynicism or sarcasm and are used to belittle the other person. The emotional tactics are often used to make another person feel worthless and unloved. * * * * * Argumentative Fallacies. 1. Critical Thinking and Reasoning: A Handbook for Teachers. Albany: The University of the State of New York, 1976. * * * * * REFERENCES. Research Skills. Edwards, Betty. _Drawing on The Right Side of The Brain_. Los Angeles: Tarcher, Inc., 1979. Lucas, Jerry and Harry Lorayne. _The Memory Book_. New York: Ballantine Books, 1974. Mindil, Phyllis. _Power Reading_. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentise Hall, 1993. Minninger, Joan. _Total Recall -- How to Boost Your Memory Power_. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press, 1984. _Neural mechanisms of learning and memory_. Mark R. Rosenzweig and Edward L. Bennett, eds. Cambridge, Mass. MIT Press, 1976. Robinson, Francis P. _Effective Studying_. 4th ed. New York: Harper and Row, 1970. Spense, Jonathan D. _The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci_. New York: Penquin Books, 1984. Spitzer, Herbert F. "Studies in Retention." _Journal of Educational Psychology_. Vol. XXX (Dec. 1930) No. 9.