LogFAQs > #914229574

When someone dismisses an entire argument because of one error made by the person making the argument, of which the argument doesn't fundamentally depend on.

Often used as a rhetorical trick to distract and change the subject.

E.g.

Person A: "I saw John leaving the building last night wearing some blue jeans"
Person B: "Actually John was wearing blue chinos that day, therefore you didn't see him leave the apartment"

You see this a lot with arguing online, e.g. "All 300 scientists agree on this issue so it's reasonable to believe it is true" and the next person says "actually there were only 280 scientists in total so your argument makes no sense"