“Poisoning the Well”
Throwing Shade
What is Poisoning the Well?
Preemptively discrediting an opponent in order to reduce the credibility of their arguments.
Business Application
When someone focuses on negative attributes of a competitor instead of their own positive attributes, there should be a cause for concern. Some accusations, when rooted in facts, should be considered when making important decisions. But the main purpose of this fallacy is to overshadow the bigger picture. You must incorporate all factors to form a logical conclusion.
Example 1
“I think John is going to come to you to talk about his promotion. Sounds silly to do so soon after screwing up the Catalina Wine Mixer.”
Why This is a Fallacy
The colleague is attempting to reduce the perceived value of their opponent to create a disadvantage when he makes a case for promotion.
Example 2
“You’re meeting with competitor? I wonder if any of their original sales staff is still with them after that huge turnover in management.”
Why This is a Fallacy
The sales rep is attempting to paint the competitor as disorganized and unreliable before they have a chance to showcase their strengths.
