A red herring is a fallacy that introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention. The argument changes the subject. It avoids the real issue. The red herring is a distraction. It smells strong and leads the hounds off the trail. The name comes from the practice of using smoked fish to train hunting dogs and then to throw them off a scent.

The fallacy is common in politics. A politician accused of corruption talks about the deficit instead. The deficit is a real issue. It is irrelevant to the corruption charge. The red herring diverts attention. The audience forgets the original question. The politician escapes scrutiny.

Red herring examples

• Why worry about climate change when there are homeless veterans?
• You say I cheated on the test, but what about the teacher's unfair grading?
• The company is polluting the river, but think about the jobs it creates.
• You criticize my driving, but you ran a red light last year.
• We should not discuss gun control; we should discuss mental health.

The red herring is a fallacy of relevance. The introduced topic may be important. It is not relevant to the current argument. The remedy is to notice the shift. Ask: does this address the original point? If not, it is a red herring. The red herring is seductive because it works. It changes the conversation. It buys time. It confuses the audience. It is a rhetorical tool. It can be used for good or ill. A debater might use it to avoid a trap. A politician might use it to survive a scandal. But in reasoning, it is a fallacy. It prevents the truth from emerging. The original question remains. It must be answered. The red herring is a distraction. Do not take the bait.