1. F A L L A C I e s
A fallacy is an error in reasoning that results in a false conclusion or misconception.
Fallacies should not be persuasive, but they often are.
Fallacies may be created unintentionally, or they may be created intentionally in order to deceive other people.
Fallacies are mistaken beliefs based on unsound arguments. They derive from reasoning that is logically incorrect, thus undermining an argument's validity.

2. Fallacy definition
The English word "fallacy" comes from the Latin noun "fallacia", meaning "trick" or "fraud". "Fallacia" is related to the Latin verb "fallere", meaning "deceive", so that a "fallacia" is a deception. The English words "false", "fail", "fallible", and "fault" are all derived from these same Latin words.*

3. Appeal to Popularity Latin - argumentum ad numeram
Description: Using the popularity of a premise or proposition as evidence for its truthfulness.  This is a fallacy which is very difficult to spot because our “common sense” tells us that if something is popular, it must be good/true/valid, but this is not so, especially in a society where clever marketing, social and political weight, and money can buy popularity.

4. Appeal to popularity
This fallacy is sometimes also known as Appeal to the People, Ad Populum, Appeal to the Gallery, Bandwagon etc.,
This sort of appeal is when somebody asserts that a thought or conviction is correct since it is the thing that the general population accepts.
A proposition is held to be true because it is widely held to be true by some sector of the population.

5. The Appeal to Popularity has the following form:
1. Most people approve or do X
(or have favorable emotions towards X).
2. Therefore, X is true.

6. Example 1 (use to defend an action)
I am sure that most students have cheated on an exam in the class. So I am not the only one and shouldn’t feel bad for doing it.
Explanation in Form:
Most people do it (X) = I am sure that most students have cheated on an exam……
Therefore, (X) is true = I am right for doing it.

7. Example 2 (use to defend a feeling)
Everyone is selfish. Everyone does what they believe will make themselves happy. If you do the same thing (being selfish), why should you feel guilty for seeking your own happiness when that's what everyone else is doing?
Explanation in wording:
In current society, many people care about themselves first. So when you are acting selfish, there is no need to feel guilty. It is okay to be selfish.

8. A Real incident I heard -
Jackie Chan, a martial artist/actor
confessed in front of media…
When the affair with actress Elaine Ng
Resulted in her pregnancy, it made explosive
headlines. At a press conference, he openly
responded to media…..
“I made a mistake and most
men in the world are prone to
make this mistake.”

9. The outcome of Jackie’s fallacy….
He successfully reduced
the controversy.
He was able to maintain his
marriage.