In today’s Jesus and Mo strip, called “appeal”, the boys once again tune up their instruments for a song. The song also came with an appeal to pity from the artist (see below):
I worked so hard to get this comic out today, I nearly gave myself an aneurysm.
Here’s what Wikipedia says about “appeal to pity” (I hadn’t heard about this:
An appeal to pity (also called argumentum ad misericordiam) is a fallacy in which someone improperly appeals to pity or similar feelings like empathy, as a method of persuading someone to agree with a conclusion. It is a specific kind of appeal to emotion. This fallacy can happen in two ways: 1) when an appeal to pity (or a similar emotion) has nothing to do with the actual point of the argument, or 2) when the emotional appeal is exaggerated or excessive compared to the situation being discussed. Not all appeals to pity are logical fallacies. When the feelings of pity are directly related to the conclusion and help support the argument logically, they can be reasonable. For instance, appealing to pity when asking for help.
Examples
- “You must have graded my exam incorrectly. I studied very hard for weeks specifically because I knew my career depended on getting a good grade. If you give me a failing grade I’m ruined!”
- “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, look at this miserable man, in a wheelchair, unable to use his legs. Could such a man really be guilty of embezzlement?”
You can guess how it applies to the duo’s new song:
Oh wow, I read (prev. “heard”) argumentum ad misericordiam the other day .. was it .. reader Sastra?…
Not sure, but TIL!…
I mean, TODIL!….
There’s a Dilbert I recall where a guy who is missing performance targets is saying “But I’m working all the time!”
Brutal.
Yes, that was me. I’m seeing the Appeal to Pity or argumentum ad misercordiam being used to convince people of all sorts of things. I sometimes call it the Argument from Boo Hoo. Here’s the classic one used by both Jesus and Mo:
“If God doesn’t exist, then our lives have no meaning and morality is arbitrary.”
(Therefore, God exists.)
I think it’s often coupled with The Argument From Shut Up.
“Without her faith in God, this poor woman would never have been able to get through the tragedies in her life.”
(Therefore, God exists and you should stop saying there’s no God.)
“When trans people’s identities aren’t validated, then their existence is being denied, bullies are encouraged to beat them up, and some of them kill themselves.”
(Therefore, Trans Women are women and shut up.)
“By scientists writing books criticizing the Left, the Right became emboldened to do even more bad things to the country and its citizens.”
(Therefore, the criticisms aren’t valid and such books should not be published.)
Agree with that – good call!
¿ TODIL ?
Not TIL
… The Other Day… I Learned…
TODIL
Appeals of the pitiful and pathetic… indoctrinated children the exception.
Today is also Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. I wouldn’t have known but for one local elementary school holding a celebration. It was reported by local news. The day celebrates Ruby Bridges and reminds us that there was a time when it was not possible or safe for black children to be in schools with white children. Utterly absurd. With all the hoohah about PC, woke, DEI, critical race theory etc. I think it is good for all of us to reflect on our past. I am so very glad my grandson can learn in a school room open to all. Please consider adding this celebration to your site for November 14, 2026.