What it sounds like
- One person says the building has 10 floors, another says 100, so it probably has 55.
- "You say the invoice is $500, they say $5,000, so let us pay $2,750." The accounting department has fainted.
Logical fallacy
Middle Ground Fallacy
Assuming the truth must be halfway between two positions.
Classic tell: One person says the building has 10 floors, another says 100, so it probably has 55.
Back to the guideFurther explanation
What is happening underneath?
Assuming the truth must be halfway between two positions.
The midpoint is treated as truth because it feels balanced. Sometimes the truth is between two claims; sometimes one claim is simply wrong.
How to tell
- Compromise is used as evidence instead of a negotiation choice.
Why people use it
- People mistake calm symmetry for accuracy.
How to combat it
- Say: "What does the evidence show, independent of where the two positions sit?"
Manipulation watch
How this gets used on people.
- Bad actors stake out extreme positions to drag the "reasonable middle" toward them.