Ad Populum Appeal To Shame

I remember very clearly that after my secondary school life had just ended, my friends were planning for all sorts of entertainment. One special night, we were hanging around at a mamak stall. Then they decided to go clubbing, drink and they invited me to join them. However I turned down the offer. I knew then I hadn’t hit 18 and I would never be able to get my mother’s permission.


They laughed at me and sneered at me, saying “You are such a mommy’s boy! You have to ask your mom in everything you do. Will you ask her if you want to date a girl or you want to marry a girl?”


The other one added in, “Even Kelly is coming. Are you afraid to come? If you are not coming with us, you are not a man.” Totally embarrassed, I agreed to go and ended up vomiting the whole night after drinking.


I regretted buying their argument. They intended to persuade me by embarrassing or making me feel uncomfortable “referring to my being a sissy” if I had not agreed to go. Why hadn’t I taken Critical Thinking subject then?

Written by : Eu Thian Teck