Scare Stat

A stat that is potentially mis-leading, used with the intention of playing off of fear-based emotional reactions (pathos), used to support an idea. This idea, requiring deceptive support, is likely flawed. A scare stat has hidden truth (or is a twisted version of truth) which the author of the scare stat hopes you will overlook, as most people do.

"In the five years after alcohol sales were expanded, the number of drinking and driving related deaths in Calloway County more than doubled compared to the five years before.

In the five years after alcohol sales were expanded, Calloway County experienced 34% more alcohol-related arrests on average compared to the five years before.

In the five years after alcohol sales were expanded, Calloway County experienced 60% more total criminal arrests on average compared to the five years before."

-source of these scare stats: keepitoutofmurray.com/statistics.html