Earlier this month, actor/comedian Jim Carrey took to Twitter in order to publicly denounce the practice of vaccinating children. He referenced that such vaccinations may be the cause of autism, and included photos of autistic children. Although this has been a public concern, there is insufficient evidence to definitively prove a causal relationship between the two. Carrey’s outburst was in response to California State Senate Bill 277, which requires that all schoolchildren in the state receive vaccinations regardless of personal or religious beliefs. An article on CNN.com states, “Recently, Carrey issued a Twitter tirade to his followers that included misinformation, misused photographs, and misfired ad hominem attacks” (Vox). The author of this article seems to be trying to steal my job- calling Carrey out on an “ad hominem” fallacy. However, Carrey is also guilty of a faulty causality fallacy. Without proper evidence, he concludes that the cases of autism must have been caused by the vaccinations, not even taking into account any other possibilities. The article itself utilizes several statistics and medical precedents to expose the lack of validity in Carrey’s argument. It’s rather bold for Jim Carrey- an entertainer- to try and assume the role of a medical professional, warning the masses of potential dangers. Then again, “bold” is his forte. Next time, I would advise Carrey to consult with an expert before ranting about his opinion on an issue. I’d also advise that he see some sort of stylist, because that beard is not working. Alrighty then!
Vox, Ford. “Why Jim Carrey Is Wrong about Vaccination.” CNN. Cable News Network, 10 July 2015. Web. 24 July 2015.
Nicholas Ciatto says
I ejnoyed the sarcasm in your post and your rhetorical analysis. I agree that Jim Carey is assuming thatsince he is a celebrity, that he can convince people on topics he has no knowlegde of. Great post
Brian McBride says
A serious post added with a good amount of humor. I liked how you pointed out the ad-hominem fallacy and used the author’s point of view to deepen the meaning of the tweet.
Annie Elizabeth Ellis says
I also really liked the humor that you used throughout this post. I enjoyed this topic because it is so relevant at the moment. I like that you put a lot of your own personal touch into it.
Cody K says
Lol, i liked the humor you put in your blog, it makes reading it entertaining. It’s also entertaining watching actors and comedians thinking that because of their fame and position in media, their opinion is equal to that of professionals with degrees and years of experience. Good blog post.