The Complex Question Fallacy:
Richard Dolan writes:
“Some believe this is as it ought to be. Can the public really
handle the truth about aliens? If the presence of others constitutes a
threat to humanity, for example, what could the average person even do about
it?”
The question here implies that there is something
already known about aliens. The inexpert reader will have the impression that
the question is not if there are aliens on our planet or in any other place of
the Universe. The fallacy tries to make this pass as a known fact asking the average
person if she/he is ready for the “truth”.
If you want to catch the fallacious writer, just ask him this: what
truth about aliens?
If the fantasists replies that he is talking about the truth
of the ET presence on our planet; you should ask him: Can you show me clear and
reliable evidence probing the ET presence in our Earth?
This of course will finish the exchange. Probably you will
be insulted and called debunker or troll. They cannot give you a satisfactory
answer.
If the illusionist tries to sell you a book, the question
must be:
Will I find in this book clear and reliable evidence about
the presence of Extraterrestrials in our planet?
If the fallacious speaker says YES, ask him to show you the
page where the evidence is clear, reliable and obvious.
He cannot show that evidence. Nobody can, simply because
there are no extraterrestrial civilizations visiting our good old Earth.
