Ad hominem

An ad hominem answers the person instead of the claim. Being late to a meeting may say something about reliability in general. It does not, by itself, show that a proposal about hours is a bad proposal. Separate the fact about the speaker from the reasons on the page. If a personal fact really changes the evidence, say exactly how: a conflict of interest, a record of false reports on this subject. If you cannot say how, you have changed the subject to the person. The claim is still waiting.

Fallacy

Ad hominem

An ad hominem answers a claim by attacking the person who made it, instead of the reasons. A fact about the speaker is relevant only when it actually bears on the evidence, such as a shown conflict of interest or a record of false reports on this subject.

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Mini check

A colleague says: "Don't listen to Nia's proposal for the library hours. She was late to the last meeting." What is the main problem?

The colleague is using a false dilemma: only two schedules are possible.The colleague is attacking Nia instead of the proposal about the hours.The colleague is arguing in a circle by assuming the hours are already bad.The colleague is appealing to popularity by citing the whole staff.

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When you want to dismiss someone, write the claim without their name and answer that.

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