Anecdotal Fallacy
When you use personal experience or an isolated example instead of sound reasoning or evidence. It is impossible to draw larger conclusions from anecdotes without having a more general perspective in order to know whether the anecdote is typical, and what factors influenced the events.
Example
I can't believe I won the lottery! It works. Everyone liquidate your investments and buy lottery tickets. If it worked for me, it will work for you.
Famous Examples
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Hitler took the guns, Stalin took the guns, Mao took the guns, Fidel Castro took the guns, Hugo Chávez took the guns. And I am here to tell you, 1776 WILL COMMENCE AGAIN IF YOU TRY TO TAKE OUR FIREARMS!
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The raw-foodist Dr. Norman Walker had two series of six colon cleanses done every year in the second half of his life—he lived to be at least 109 (some say older). I’ve found that one colonic every four to six months has been effective for me—although I am sure that more would do me good.
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I feel genius in great works of art. I have seen medical cures that science can’t explain, some seemingly triggered by faith. The same is true of millions of other people.
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I have never seen a thin person drinking Diet Coke.
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Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff but I never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field controls my destiny.
Context: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope -
I'm glad now, at age 66, that I never used alcohol or tobacco... I've buried a lot of friends who used tobacco or alcohol.
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Matt Horner: Is there a reason that convict's still on my (ship's) bridge?
Jim Raynor: Easy Matt. Tychus is one of my oldest friends. He helped me out of a real bind a few years back. I owe him.
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General Dodonna: The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station.
Wedge Antilles: That's impossible! Even for a computer.
Luke Skywalker: It's not impossible. I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home. They're not much bigger than two meters.
Context: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope -
Instead of the warming we were promised by Al Gore, we’re actually getting subzero chills across much of the country. The National Guard has even been mobilized in some areas to deal with the extreme cold and snow fall. How is this possible if the Earth has been “warming” for a couple of decades as Al Gore promised?
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Ignorance is bliss. Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions.
Context: The Colbert Report (television show)
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