Poisoning the well
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Poisoning the well is a pre-emptive logical fallacy where adverse information about someone is presented to an audience, with the intention of discrediting everything he is about to say.
The origin of the phrase comes from the belief in medieval times that outbreaks of bubonic plague were caused by Jews poisoning the water supply. Suggesting that someone was not to be trusted after accusing them of the unrelated crime of poisoning the water was effective rhetoric, but bad logic.
- Examples:
- Before you listen to my opponent, may I remind you that he has been in jail.
- Don't listen to what he says, he's a lawyer.
Poisoning the well is a special case of argumentum ad hominem.
See also: Guilt by association.uk:Отруєння джерела he:הרעלת_בארות