A field guide to the ways reasoning breaks
Distraction and distortion
Also called Ignoratio elenchi, irrelevant conclusion
Introducing a side issue that draws attention away from the question at hand.
Why worry about the deadline when the office coffee is terrible?
Return to the original question out loud and park the new topic for later.
A red herring is a heavily smoked fish with a strong smell. The idiom was popularized by the journalist William Cobbett in 1807, in a story about dragging a kipper across a trail to pull hounds off the scent — the fish that leads the dogs astray.
Asked about the hospital's infection rates, the health minister praises the dedication of the nursing staff at length.
Questioned about a product's security flaw, the company's statement explains how many jobs it supports in the region.
A roommate asked about the unpaid rent launches into how rarely anyone else does the dishes.
A council member, pressed on a missing infrastructure budget, delivers a heartfelt speech about the town's proud history.