False Cause and Effect Fallacy

Dirty Disinfo Trick: Fake Cause and Effect

What is Fake Cause and Effect? Bad actor tries to convince you that Thing A caused Thing B - just because B happened after A. Sometimes that is how it works, but not always. That is why it is an effect dirty disinfo trick.

Why did gas prices go up? Los of reasons - like people driving more as they go back to work and school.

Another example: All children like arts and crafts. Then they go to school. Few adults like art, so school makes you hate art.

Don't get fooled. Ask: Is there proof that one causes the other? Could there be factors that only an expert would know? What do the experts say about this theory?

Reality Team
March 1, 2021

What is the false cause and effect fallacy?

The “cause” and effect trick claims that just because “thing 2” happened after “thing 1”, “thing 2” was caused by “thing 1” – when in reality, the two are wholly unrelated.

It’s a really common trick, and it’s easy to fall for.

These work best when they confirm a fear or reference something we don’t know much about.

For instance:

“Tampa never won the Super Bowl until I moved here. Therefore, Tampa won this year because of me!”
“I sneezed this morning, and later I stubbed my toe. Therefore, sneezing causes toe injuries.”
“Someone got the COVID vaccine, then died of a heart attack a month later. Therefore, the vaccine causes heart attacks.”