What are false dichotomies?

A false dichotomy is when someone makes it look like there are only two choices, but really, there are more options out there.

Imagine you're choosing between ice cream and cake for dessert. Your friend says, "You have to pick one or the other, no in-between!" But what if you could have both? Or maybe a tiny scoop of ice cream on top of your cake? That's a false dichotomy, it makes things seem like there are only two options when there are actually more.

Sometimes people use false dichotomies to make decisions easier. They might say, "You're either with us or against us!" But maybe you’re just confused and want to figure things out first.

Look for phrases like:

• "Either X or Y"
• "Only two choices"
• "No middle ground"

These are clues that someone is hiding other options, like a sneaky cookie in the back of the kitchen!