Which fallacy introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention?

The red herring fallacy is a tactic used to divert attention from the main argument or issue by introducing an irrelevant topic. This distraction effectively shifts the focus away from the original point under discussion, leading the audience to consider something unrelated instead. When someone employs a red herring, they might bring up an emotionally charged or provocative issue that has no direct connection to the argument at hand, thus muddying the waters and preventing a clear discussion of the core topic.

In contrast, the straw man fallacy involves misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack, while an appeal to ignorance argues that a proposition is true merely because it has not been proven false. The false dilemma fallacy presents a situation as having only two possible outcomes when, in fact, there are more options. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why red herring is specifically associated with introducing irrelevant issues for diversion.