Manufactured Housing, Profitable Education,
Straw Men, Red Herrings, and Ad Hominems
Today, before diving into the news and reports from the week in review, we will consider principles that once understood, can be personally and professionally useful and profitable.
Correct Reasoning
All education time. Yet education is necessary. Done correctly, with someone willing or open to learning, an educational effort can be quite profitable.
The obvious antidote to the poison of misinformation is good information. That applies in business, someone’s personal life, politics or any subject one care to consider.
But what if the misinformation has gone on for a long time?
Manufactured housing has suffered from a various examples of flawed thinking. Those errors may perhaps have been well intended by some. But nevertheless, misguided policies at the local, state and national level have harmed manufactured housing. Those who grasp that pattern can in turn manipulate matters, for good or ill.
When such conditions occur, the normal function of a free market has been skewed.
When misinformation is common, it can become useful or necessary to demonstrate step-by-step the errors in reason. There are many ways that can be done.
One way is to show trend lines. If group X promised Y, and years later, Y is not achieved – and the hoped for fix may have meanwhile became worse – the reasonable person viewing that trend ought to consider rejecting X and Y, at least on that issue.
But what if X uses a clever slight of hand? X says in reply to the evidence, ‘the reason Y hasn’t yet occurred is because A over here is an idiot, and messed it up. Ignore A, and give it more time.’
That’s an example of logical fallacies at work. X tries to duck the issue, instead of actually addressing the failure.
Much of American education uses some logic within a discipline, such as math, engineering, science, English or medicine.
But not enough realize just how valuable spotting a logical fallacy can be in business, policy matters, or any other part of life.
There are manipulations of reason, often based upon emotional appeals. Before diving into the stories for the week that was, consider these three common fallacies.
The Best Schools “The Quad” says this about the three common logical fallacies we spotlighted in our headline.
Just as success in business requires discipline and time, there is a measure of discipline and time needed to understand these common fallacies of reason. But for those who learn them, it can open doors to clear thinking, which in turn can clear the way to correct actions.
Right thinking can lead to more, and ethical, profits. Take the time to dig in, learn more, to earn more.
1) Ad Hominem Fallacy
“When people think of “arguments,” often their first thought is of shouting matches riddled with personal attacks. Ironically, personal attacks run contrary to rational arguments. In logic and rhetoric, personal attacks are called ad hominems. Ad hominem is Latin for “against the man.” Instead of advancing good sound reasoning, ad hominems replace logical argumentation with attack-language unrelated to the truth of the matter…”
…Mudslinging…
“An ad hominem is more than just an insult. It’s an insult used as if it were an argument or evidence in support of a conclusion. Verbally attacking people proves nothing about the truth or falsity of their claims. Ad hominems are common known in politics as “mudslinging.” Instead of addressing the candidate’s stance on the issues, or addressing his or her effectiveness as a statesman or stateswoman, ad hominems focus on personality issues, speech patterns, wardrobe, style, and other things that affect popularity but have no bearing on their competence. In this way, ad hominems can be unethical, seeking to manipulate voters by appealing to irrelevant foibles and name-calling instead of addressing core issues. In this last election cycle, personal attacks were volleyed freely from all sides of the political aisle, with both Clinton and Trump facing their fair share of ad hominems...”
“…When these insults crowd out a substantial argument, they become ad hominems.”
2) Straw Man
“It’s much easier to defeat your opponent’s argument when it’s made of straw. The Strawman fallacy is aptly named after a harmless, lifeless, scarecrow. In the straw man fallacy, someone attacks a position the opponent doesn’t really hold. Instead of contending with the actual argument, he or she instead attacks the equivalent of a lifeless bundle of straw, an easily defeated effigy, which the opponent never intended upon defending anyway.”
“Straw man fallacies are a cheap and easy way to make one’s position look stronger than it is. Using this fallacy, opposing views are characterized as “non-starters,” lifeless, truthless, and wholly unreliable. By comparison, one’s own position will look better for it. You can imagine how straw man fallacies and ad hominems can occur together, demonizing opponents and discrediting their views.”
3) Red Herring (ignoratio elenchi)
“A “red herring” is a distraction from the argument typically with some sentiment that seems to be relevant but isn’t really on-topic. Typically, the distraction sounds relevant but isn’t quite on-topic. This tactic is common when someone doesn’t like the current topic and wants to detour into something else instead, something easier or safer to address. Red herrings are typically related to the issue in question but aren’t quite relevant enough to be helpful. Instead of clarifying and focusing they confuse and distract.”
You could call the red herring a slight of hand, or razzle dazzle. Its a distraction, designed to take people away – often by using emotional ploys – from the original point. Both the cartoon, and the video clip make the point.
The video from a movie has the advantage of ending with the lesson. The red herring, or any logical fallacy, isn’t about convincing your opponent. It’s about distracting and manipulating the audience.
Remember, ours is a great industry, with a proven track record that has sunk to a low level. It arguably won’t advance to its full potential until those core issues are addressed.
That said, and since several of those issues are covered in this week’s news and reports, with no further adieu, let’s dive into the week that was.
What’s New on MHLivingNews
Elvis Presley’s Personal Mobile Home Restored, Honeymoon Hideaway Up for Auction
Elvis Presley’s Personal Mobile Home Restored, Honeymoon Hideaway Up for Auction – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
The scores of Elvis impersonators one can find are the only reminders needed that he is still seen as the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ today, as he was by millions in years gone by. When you are a star, it seems surprising to people that someone with money and fame would pick a mobile home for their personal use.
What’s New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 8.18.2018
Apartments vs. Manufactured Housing, NMHC and NAR Data, Opportunities
Apartments vs. Manufactured Housing, NMHC and NAR Data, Opportunities
Friday 8.17.2018
HUD Files Discrimination vs Facebook, Plus MH Market Updates
HUD Files Discrimination vs Facebook, Plus MH Market Updates
Secretary Carson Led HUD Brings Housing Discrimination Charges
Painful Headline, “Moving Into Mobile Homes to Stay in Silicon Valley” Reveals Surprising Discovery
Painful Headline, “Moving Into Mobile Homes to Stay in Silicon Valley” Reveals Surprising Discovery
Warren Buffett Would be Okay With Clayton Homes Losing Money, Says Kevin Clayton – But Why?
Warren Buffett Would be Okay With Clayton Homes Losing Money, Says Kevin Clayton – But Why?
Thursday 8.16.2018
From Builders, Construction, & Manufactured Housing – July Business, Jobs, Confidence Report
Kudlow Says “We Are Crushing It,” Plus Manufactured Housing Market Updates
Kudlow Says “We Are Crushing It,” Plus Manufactured Housing Market Updates
Introducing the JW Corruption Chronicles, News Reporting Isn’t Dead
Wednesday 8.15.2018
Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s Honeymoon Mobile Home Auctioned Soon
“Buyers Have Had Enough,” says Redfin’s Glenn Kelman
“Work With Us Or Die,” Threat from Facebook’s Brown, per SUN Report
“Work With Us Or Die,” Threat from Facebook’s Brown, per SUN Report
Tuesday 8.14.2018
Battle for the House, What to Watch in Tuesday’s Primaries
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway reloads Apple, Goldman Sachs, Plus MH Market Updates
Kevin Clayton, Leslie Gooch Sound-off; Left & Right Agree? Manufactured Homeland, MHI, & You
Kevin Clayton, Leslie Gooch Sound-off; Left & Right Agree? Manufactured Homeland, MHI, & You
Ford is Powering the “Home of the Future”
Monday 8.13.2018
HUD Publishes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Affirmative Furthering Fair Housing Rule
“We Shouldn’t Fear Our Government,” Feds Pay Out Millions in Case, Plus MH Market Updates
“We Shouldn’t Fear Our Government,” Feds Pay Out Millions in Case, Plus MH Market Updates
RV/MH Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Inducted in Gala Ceremonies
RV/MH Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Inducted in Gala Ceremonies
Becoming a Standout Performer, Monday Morning Sales, Marketing Meeting
Becoming a Standout Performer, Monday Morning Sales, Marketing Meeting
Sunday 8.12.2018
And that’s all she wrote, with some help from that other guy, during the week that was. Sign up for our industry’s most popular headline news, at the link below. Watch for some keen new reports in this upcoming week. “That’s News Through the Lens of Factory Built Housing,” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Headline news in review, analysis and commentary.)
(Third party images, content are provided under fair use guidelines.)
1) To sign up in seconds for our MH Industry leading emailed news updates, click here.
2) To provide a News Tips and/or Commentary, click the link to the left. Please note if comments are on-or-off the record, thank you.
3) Marketing, Web, Video, Consulting, Recruiting and Training Resources
