Ad Hominem Fallacy

Ad Hominem

Latin for "to the person", this fallacy involves a focus on the individual, irrelevant to opinions expressed. In media and debate, ad hominem attacks are often used as distractions meant to divert attention from a losing opinion or perspective. 

Ad hominem example: A family member mentions "exploding" Covid stats during a CNN segment on the virus. You mention the fact that media can distort virus coverage by using stats without also providing all-important context. Your relative instantly becomes hysterical, then accuses you of being a brainwashed Breitbart white supremacist. The topic went from media and stats to you personally. That is ad hominem.

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