What it sounds like
- That idea came from a teenager, so it is worthless.
- "That suggestion came from an intern, so ignore it." Bold strategy: rank truth by job title.
Logical fallacy
Genetic Fallacy
Judging an argument based only on where it came from.
Classic tell: That idea came from a teenager, so it is worthless.
Back to the guideFurther explanation
What is happening underneath?
Judging an argument based only on where it came from.
The source of an idea is treated as enough to accept or reject it. Origins matter for context; they do not replace evaluation.
How to tell
- The response judges the birthplace of the claim instead of the claim's evidence.
Why people use it
- It saves people from engaging with ideas from disliked, low-status, or unfamiliar sources.
How to combat it
- Say: "Regardless of where it came from, does the argument hold?"
Manipulation watch
How this gets used on people.
- Partisan messaging trains audiences to reject information based on outlet, tribe, or speaker before reading the substance.