What we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse

The narrative surrounding the cargo ship collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and its subsequent collapse strongly utilizes the No True Scotsman fallacy, particularly in discussions around the ship's maintenance and operational integrity. By emphasizing that a "standard examination" found no deficiencies, it implicitly suggests that a truly well-maintained and operated ship wouldn't have caused such a disaster, overlooking the complex interplay of factors that can lead to maritime accidents. The Appeal to Emotion is evident in the detailed accounts of the construction workers' plight, the recovery of bodies, and the impact on their families. This emotional focus is designed to draw readers' attention to the human cost of the tragedy, potentially overshadowing the broader systemic or procedural issues at play. The narrative also presents a False Dilemma in the response to the bridge collapse, suggesting that the only outcomes are either a logistical nightmare due to disrupted traffic and shipping or an extensive and costly rebuilding effort led by the federal government. This dichotomy overlooks the possibility of intermediate solutions or other measures that could mitigate the impact without necessitating a binary choice between two extremes. Overall, the narrative on the bridge collapse incident employs emotional appeals, a fallacy of purity, and presents binary choices to discuss a complex incident, highlighting the personal tragedies involved and the significant logistical challenges, while potentially oversimplifying the broader issues and solutions.