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Tantek ÇelikI just participated in the first W3C Authentic Web Mini Workshop<a href="https://tantek.com/2025/071/t1/w3c-authentic-web-workshop-flaws#t5az1_note-1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">¹</a> hosted by the Credible Web Community Group<a href="https://tantek.com/2025/071/t1/w3c-authentic-web-workshop-flaws#t5az1_note-2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">²</a> (of which I’m a longtime member) and up front I noted that our very discussion itself needed to be careful about its own credibility, extra critical of any technologies discussed or assertions made, and initially identified two flaws to avoid on a meta level, having seen them occur many times in technical or standards discussions: 1. Politician’s Syllogism — "Something must be done about this problem. Here is something, let's do it!" 2. Solutions Looking For Problems — "I am interested in how tech X can solve problem Y" After some back and forth and arguments in the Zoom chat, I observed participants questioning speakers of arguments rather than the arguments themselves, so I had to identify a third fallacy to avoid: 3. Ad Hominem — while obvious examples are name-calling (which is usually against codes of conduct), less obvious examples (witnessed in the meeting) include questioning a speaker’s education (or lack thereof) like what they have or have not read, or would benefit from reading. I am blogging these here both as a reminder (should you choose to participate in such discussions), and as a resource to cite in future discussions. We need to all develop expertise in recognizing these logical and methodological flaws & fallacies, and call them out when we see them, especially when used against others. We need to promptly prune these flawed methods of discussion, so we can focus on actual productive, relevant, and yes, credible discussions. <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/W3C" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#W3C</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/credweb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#credweb</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/credibleWeb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#credibleWeb</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/authenticWeb" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#authenticWeb</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/flaw" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#flaw</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/fallacy" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fallacy</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/fallacies" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fallacies</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/logicalFallacy" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#logicalFallacy</a> <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/logicalFallacies" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#logicalFallacies</a> Glossary Ad Hominem   attacking an attribute of the person making an argument rather than the argument itself   <a class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem</a> Politician's syllogism   <a class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician%27s_syllogism" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician%27s_syllogism</a> Solutions Looking For Problems (related: <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/solutionism" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#solutionism</a>, <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/solutioneering" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#solutioneering</a>)   Promoting a technology that either has not identified a real problem for it to solve, or actively pitching a specific technology to any problem that seems related. Wikipedia has no page on this but has two related pages:   * <a class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument</a>   * <a class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_fix</a>   Wikipedia does have an essay on this specific to Wikipedia:   * <a class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Solutions_looking_for_a_problem" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Solutions_looking_for_a_problem</a>   Stack Exchange has a thread on "solution in search of a problem":   * <a class="" href="https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/250320/a-word-that-means-a-solution-in-search-of-a-problem" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/250320/a-word-that-means-a-solution-in-search-of-a-problem</a>   Forbes has an illustrative anecdote:     * <a class="" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephanieburns/2019/05/28/solution-looking-for-a-problem/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephanieburns/2019/05/28/solution-looking-for-a-problem/</a> References <a href="https://tantek.com/2025/071/t1/w3c-authentic-web-workshop-flaws#t5az1_ref-1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">¹</a> <a class="" href="https://www.w3.org/events/workshops/2025/authentic-web-workshop/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.w3.org/events/workshops/2025/authentic-web-workshop/</a> <a href="https://tantek.com/2025/071/t1/w3c-authentic-web-workshop-flaws#t5az1_ref-2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">²</a> <a class="" href="https://credweb.org/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://credweb.org/</a> and <a class="" href="https://www.w3.org/community/credibility/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.w3.org/community/credibility/</a> Previously in 2019 I participated in <a class="" href="https://indieweb.social/tags/MisinfoCon:" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#MisinfoCon:</a> * <a class="" href="https://tantek.com/2019/296/t1/london-misinfocon-discuss-spectrum-recency" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tantek.com/2019/296/t1/london-misinfocon-discuss-spectrum-recency</a> * <a class="" href="https://tantek.com/2019/296/t2/misinfocon-roundtable-spectrums-misinformation" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://tantek.com/2019/296/t2/misinfocon-roundtable-spectrums-misinformation</a>

BongolianWhen the Richest Man in the World Loves <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Classics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Classics</a>"Musk’s posts about <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/antiquity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#antiquity</a> do not overtly engage in hate speech but they tread the same ideological paths as <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fascism</a>."<a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/musk" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#musk</a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/history" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#history</a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/LogicalFallacies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LogicalFallacies</a> <a href="https://pharos.vassarspaces.net/2025/01/31/elon-musk-nazi-salute-classics-roman-empire-latin/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank">https://pharos.vassarspaces.net/2025/01/31/elon-musk-nazi-salute-classics-roman-empire-latin/</a>

Stephen SekulaThe <a href="https://mastodon.cooleysekula.net/tags/washingtonpost" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#washingtonpost</a> was kind enough to provide a copy of the memo ordering the freeze. I attach screen captures here. This memo is a masterclass in <a href="https://mastodon.cooleysekula.net/tags/LogicalFallacies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LogicalFallacies</a>, especially <a href="https://mastodon.cooleysekula.net/tags/equivocation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#equivocation</a>: using vague, undefined terms with ambiguous meaning, leaving it to the mind of the reader to choose the definition that best suits their personal interpretation. It is a classic trick to fool the audience while providing no grounding for your position.

TerrorskullThe tutorial demands (gently suggests) an <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/introduction" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#introduction</a> and who am I to not give it one, even though I finished everything and came back to post later. I am Terrorskull, clearly, and I am new to <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/calckey" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#calckey</a>. I have been on <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Mastodon" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Mastodon</a> for about a year but decided I should check out what else the <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Fediverse" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Fediverse</a> has to offer. For now, at least, this will be my backup account to <a href="https://twit.social/@terrorskull" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@terrorskull@twit.social</a>, but I still plan to post here from time to time. The web interface seems significantly better, dare I say... modern! So, who am I? I am a <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/DotNet" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#DotNet</a> <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Developer" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Developer</a> by profession. I am also a <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Gamer" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Gamer</a> and <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Skeptic" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Skeptic</a> who spends a lot of time consuming various media related to <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Science" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Science</a>, <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/CriticalThinking" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CriticalThinking</a> and <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/LogicalFallacies" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#LogicalFallacies</a>, and <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Tech" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Tech</a>. When not involved in one of those areas, I am probably doing something <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/Fitness" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Fitness</a> related or taking care of my special needs <a href="https://calckey.social/tags/cats" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#cats</a>. This concludes my introduction. Thank you for reading. Feel free to follow me here and/or on my <a href="https://twit.social/@terrorskull" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@terrorskull@twit.social</a> account for random musings and sharing/boosts of various science and gaming related information. Before I forget, the required cat photo is included, as a cat photo is always required for an introduction.

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