Today’s WOTD is “dichotomy.” Merriam Webster tells us this means a division into two mutually exclusive, contradictory options. Dichotomies are often overly simplistic, usually misleading, and sometimes blatantly false. (Notice, three options rather than two, thus expertly skirting the potential for a false dichotomy.) Examples might include the ever-popular “Struggle of Good versus Evil.” (What, no Gray Area? And why are we Capitalizing Everything, fercryinoutloud?). Plus, my personal favorite: “Please answer ‘yes’ or ‘no:’ Have you stopped beating your wife?” (Sorry, #MeToo fans: I haven’t. I mean, I have. I mean… well, you know what I mean!) Then of course there’s the latest from Randall Munroe, perfectly illustrating the point, which pits cannibalism versus… (yep, you guessed it) false dichotomies.
