# No true Scotsman

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-true-scotsman/216581>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 2, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-true-scotsman/216581 "2003-12-02T21:51:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-true-scotsman/216581/1 "2003-12-02T21:51:51Z")

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This is a logical fallacy I see referred to off and on in Great debates. What is it exactly?

From the context I gather it has something to do with the illegitimate exclusion of contradictory examples as in:

A: All Scotsmen drink.

B: Angus McFeely has never touched a drop in his life.

A: Then he is not a true Scotsman.

But I’m not sure about this. Could I get some help please?

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-true-scotsman/216581/2 "2003-12-02T22:08:42Z")

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[Link](http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/skepticism/blfaq_fall_notruescotsman.htm)

[Another link](http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/logic.html#scots)

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-true-scotsman/216581/3 "2003-12-02T22:15:39Z")

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Thanks, **ascenray**

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-true-scotsman/216581/4 "2003-12-03T14:44:41Z")

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Yer welcome.