Saw a meme today that said "Men who say NOT ALL MEN should be locked in a room full of snakes. Not all of them are venomous." I'm not sure it I'm supposed to laugh or admit the truth. I did neither because it's based on a fallacy. A few fallacies, actually.
Fallacy 1: Women have to be careful walking alone because a man might attack her. True statement. Yet it is also true that a woman might attack her. Or an animal might attack her. It's more accurate to say any person walking alone should be careful because they might be attacked. No one gets vilified, and certainly no entire groups. (It's my personal experience that an animal attack is far more likely, but I digress.)
Fallacy 2: Let's talk about those snakes. Say there are a hundred snakes locked in that room. Only 10 to 15 are going to be venomous and even fewer prey on anything the size of a human. Even the deadliest snake does not bite for fun. The snake that bites for no reason is a rare creature indeed.
I'm fully aware that people are not snakes. Some would even argue that we are not animals. Yet the basic principle applies - how many men are willing or able to randomly attack a fellow human being?
Fallacy 3: It kind of leans into blaming the victim. I understand the man who objects "Not all men". Nobody likes to be stereotyped, and certainly not negatively stereotyped.
I suggest "not even most" as the phraseology. Or a sarcastic "thanks" if you're feeling less intellectual. The latter usually gets a response of "Oh, not you. Other (men, in this case)." Ask for names if they say that.
This advice doesn't just apply to the given scenario. It works with almost any blanket statement. Try it when you find yourself being lumped in with evil-doers because you share a sex, religion, or political leaning.
