think of the children
The phrase "think of the children" is often used to evoke emotional concern for the welfare of young people, sometimes at the expense of rational debate.
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Definition
C1Debate
(emotional, rhetorical)An emotional appeal to prioritize the welfare and safety of young people in arguments or decision-making.
Example
- During the debate on media censorship, one speaker kept saying, 'We must think of the children!'
C1Rhetoric
(logical fallacy, manipulative)A tactic used to evoke concern and urgency by highlighting potential negative impacts on young people, often to sway opinion without addressing the core issue.
Example
- The politician's argument relied heavily on 'think of the children,' despite lacking evidence for his claims.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "think of the children":