As an English instructor at Cal State Bakersfield, I
regularly read your Commentary page to show my students
how to create a logical, well-crafted, succinct argument. I
also get to read Vincent, whom I would like to personally
thank. One of the hardest concepts for my students to
grasp is the notion of a fallacious claim.
Fortunately, I can regularly turn to Vincent for examples
of ad hominem, poisoning the well and the genetic fallacy.
Rather than presenting her claims or logically critiquing
those of her opponent, Vincent -- choosing to ignore the
argument itself -- consistently attacks a claim's
environment, whether that be the person making the claim,
the present circumstances surrounding the claim or the
history in which the claim was fashioned. Her
commentaries never fail to provide my students with
examples of illogic at work.
Matthew Woodman
Bakersfield
There are a couple more there, too.