Poisoning the well

Poisoning the well is a logical fallacy in which the person making the fallacy seeks to discredit an opponent before that opponent has presented any arguments.

Examples

• "When John E. Jones decided in 2005 to “traipse into” the controversial area of evolution and science education, deciding the scientific merit of intelligent design as a federal court judge in Dover, PA, he may have only dreamed of the day when he would see himself on the silver screen. [...] Now PBS and NOVA are teaming up to produce what may be Judge Jones’ dream come true. “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial” is a special 2-hour program devoted to the Dover trial as Judge Jones saw it." -- Anika Jones, "What NOVA Won't Tell You about Dover"
• "Science says that disease is caused by germs, not demons. But don't we place too much reliance on science?"

See also

• Argumentum ad hominem