The
spotlight logical fallacy is the fallacy of assuming that all of a group correspond to those members that receive most attention, from the media or otherwise.
Examples:
- I wouldn't like to go to America because the of all the gun crime, we see it on the news all the time.
- Doctor: "Why don't patients make some effort to look after themselves. My surgery is full of people who eat, drink, smoke and don't get any exercise". Of course he may have many more patients who do look after themselves and don't often turn up is his surgery.
- Why do young people all take drugs and go around mugging old ladies? You read about it in the paper all the time!
- Child "When I grow up I want to be a singer. Have you seen how much money those pop-stars make!"