Appeal to Force (Argumentum ad Baculum)

Appeal to Force (Argumentum ad Baculum) meaning argument of the "stick" or  the "CUDGEL"!

Definition: An informal logical fallacy in which the arguer threatens the persuadee that unpleasant consequences will follow unless they accept the conclusion.

A force argument states that the conclusion must be true because there is a threat of force against any dissent.  This is fallacious because the threat of force does not necessarily prove the conclusion to be correct.  I will use a force argument directed towards a Colo Claw Fish as a sample.


Cranky Crabby

Cranky Crabby is a particularly traumatized crab since he nearly lost his life at a seafood restaurant on a fishing pier at a beach.   He is terrified to death of seafood chefs and the seafood lover in you as to compel him  to have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as a security blanket and defense mechanism and to revile flamboyance.  He also is an obsessive-compulsive cleaner of Sando Aqua Monsters, obsessively removing parasites from such leviathans and that is just another part of his security blanket.  He is even afraid of even having to think about the chef or the seafood lover in you as to use threats to justify his OCD.  This troubled crustacean has an Obsessive-Compulsive Crisis (OCC).  He is joyless, humorless, paranoid,  anxious, worried, controlling, dictatorial, obsessive-compulsive, introverted, and short-fused.

The Persuadee: Kyle Colo

Kyle Colo is a very relaxed and flashy Colo Claw Fish who loves to flirt and his extremely flamboyant.  He is the prime target target of Cranky Crabby's OCC and appeal to force because of how showy he is.  Kyle is also effeminate and loves peace, sleeping, partying, fun, adventure, and flamboyance.  He does not listen to threats. 

The Conclusion: OCD & No Flashiness Allowed

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neurological disorder in which a sufferer has obsessive fears of certain things such as germs, nudity, heights, etc and does rituals to cope with those fears such as obsessive cleaning and washing hands frequently.  OCD can be treated through therapy and certain medications and the symptoms will gradually go away when one resist the urge to perform the OCD rituals.

The Threat: Sando Aqua Monster

The Sando Aqua Monster is a sadistic leviathan and indiscriminatory feeder that dines on Opee Sea Killers and Colo Claw Fish like Kyle Colo.  Their main predator is the Cloverfield Monster.

"Listen up Kyle Colo, obsessive-compulsive disorder is by far the BEST security blanket EVER while flashiness is by far the WORST abomination EVER!  I need my OCD rituals to avoid the chef or even thinking about the chef and your showiness if putting me at grave risk of meeting up with the chef again!  If you don't believe  me and continue to be a flashy anti-OCD eel, I will summon a Sando Aqua Monster and he will rip you and two and eat you for LUNCH!" - Cranky Crabby

Let's examine the above argument.  There is so much wrong with the aforementioned statement.  First of all, it carries a macabre threat of a Sando Aqua Monster biting Kyle Colo in two if he does not agree with Cranky Crabby.  Secondly, there is no substance to Cranky Crabby's argument, just demands and a threat of force.  Thirdly, no one can logically argue in favor of having OCD as a good security blanket since it is a mental disorder.  The threat of the Sando Aqua Monster does not necessarily prove that OCD is a security blanket or that flamboyance is bad.  Kyle Colo is not at all swayed by the force argument as demonstrated by the following quote:

"Please Cranky Crabby, lighten up and go get some serious treatment for your obsessive-compulsive disorder and let me by flashy.  It is not good for anyone to be constantly worried, anxious, and paranoid like you insist on being.  I will not give into your appeal to force.  Threatening to have a Sando Aqua Monster bite me in two if I am flashy and do not let you be obsessive-compulsive is a force argument.  I am going on a Perseus shuttle right now and setting sail on board the ISV Odyssey and you are coming on board to get the OCD treatment that you so dread.  The Perseus shuttle that will taxi me will neutralize any Sando Aqua Monster that you may summon." - Kyle Colo

Kyle Colo saw a Perseus shuttle just outside of his burrow but he had to eat before taking off, but the pilot and co-pilot of the shuttle knew that since it was part of their job description to make sure that any Colo Claw Fish that they take up into space are well fed first.  When Kyle Colo left his burrow he heard the words "Kyle Colo, stay close on my shuttle for your own safely."  Kyle Colo agreed and the Perseus 16 shuttle escorted him to find a pre-launch meal.  But just after feeding, a Sando Aqua Monster bellowed, "Hi there Lunch Eel, I heard that you gave Cranky Crabby a hard time and attempted to deprive him of his OCD vitals and were continuing to be flashy.  I must bite you in half and eat you for lunch!  Cranky Crabby is with me.  Haw haw ha ha ha he he he he!"  Kyle Colo quickly retreated into the Perseus shuttle before  the hatch closed in time to protect him.  The Perseus 16 electrocuted the Sando Aqua Monster and Cranky Crabby was captured minutes later.

Once Cranky and Kyle were both secure in Perseus 16, Perseus 16 headed towards the surface turning its jets vertical just before breaching the surface of the water. Once out of the water and hovering, the jets turned back horizontal and the Perseus 16 took off and began its ascent into orbit.  Kyle Colo was excited while Cranky Crabby was pale.  Cranky Crabby did say a word while Kyle Colo cheered in anticipation.  Once in the stratosphere, Perseus 16 switched to rocket mode and made the final climb into Naboo orbit before reuniting with the ISV Odyssey.

Once the Perseus 16 docked to the ISV Odyssey, Kyle Colo took Cranky Crabby with him as he transferred to his deep space hibernation quarters.  Kyle Colo wrapped up his eel body in a wrap blanket and got cozy falling fast asleep and beginning to hibernate.  Cranky made a scene but it did not wake up  Kyle Colo who was a heavy sleeper.  The ISV Odyssey then fired up its engines and headed into deep space.