Eaglesnest
Eaglesnest
Joined: Jul 29, 2014
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August 23rd, 2014 at 12:47:46 AM permalink
Given that Hitler and Nazism had such a major impact on the entire world, it is inevitable that many discussions of otherwise unrelated topics will contain a reference to, comparison to, or metaphor using Hitler/Nazism. Despite the commonplace nature of this phenomenon, and despite the fact that even remarking on it is silly, an internet meme called "Godwin's Law" has slithered onto the scene. It is hyperbole at best and rank stupidity at worst (the vast majority of discussions, on the web and off, do not ever touch on Hitler/Nazism). Because it is stupid, however, it is ubiquitous (the internet is a vast cesspool of clichéd and reflexive thinking), leading to Eaglesnest's Law:

It is a virtual certainty that whenever Hitler or Nazism are mentioned on an internet discussion board, someone will INSTANTLY respond with an invocation of "Godwin's 'Law' "--which will, as Elmer Fudd would often remark about Bugs Bunny, "seem vewy cwever" to the person making said response.

(It's along the same lines of the person who is in a restaurant when a waiter drops and breaks some dishes, glasses, etc. and instantly bellows "MAZELTOV!" What a thigh-slapping, chortle-inducing, original witticism!)
Gandler
Gandler
Joined: Jan 27, 2014
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August 23rd, 2014 at 1:44:27 AM permalink
Quote: Eaglesnest

Given that Hitler and Nazism had such a major impact on the entire world, it is inevitable that many discussions of otherwise unrelated topics will contain a reference to, comparison to, or metaphor using Hitler/Nazism. Despite the commonplace nature of this phenomenon, and despite the fact that even remarking on it is silly, an internet meme called "Godwin's Law" has slithered onto the scene. It is hyperbole at best and rank stupidity at worst (the vast majority of discussions, on the web and off, do not ever touch on Hitler/Nazism). Because it is stupid, however, it is ubiquitous (the internet is a vast cesspool of clichéd and reflexive thinking), leading to Eaglesnest's Law:

It is a virtual certainty that whenever Hitler or Nazism are mentioned on an internet discussion board, someone will INSTANTLY respond with an invocation of "Godwin's 'Law' "--which will, as Elmer Fudd would often remark about Bugs Bunny, "seem vewy cwever" to the person making said response.

(It's along the same lines of the person who is in a restaurant when a waiter drops and breaks some dishes, glasses, etc. and instantly bellows "MAZELTOV!" What a thigh-slapping, chortle-inducing, original witticism!)



I agree, there are a lot of idiots that whenever they disagree with you will throw the Nazi slur at you. It does not happen so much on this board. But I have had one joker message me some time ago (after defending a casino in some scenerio) that I "would be the type of sheep that would support the Nazis too" or something along those lines. Oh well, there are not so politically astute people on every forum...

If somebody makes ridiculous accusations it's best just to ignore them.... People throwing out the race card and other slurs is very much the same concept... the best remedy is just to ignore those type of people, they can't win an argument so they just make extremist accusations...
onenickelmiracle
onenickelmiracle
Joined: Jan 26, 2012
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August 23rd, 2014 at 2:03:59 AM permalink
Can you explain your law in English?
I am a robot.
Gandler
Gandler
Joined: Jan 27, 2014
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August 23rd, 2014 at 2:09:33 AM permalink
Quote: onenickelmiracle

Can you explain your law in English?


He's proposing a rebuttal to anytime somebody posts "you sound like a Nazi".
onenickelmiracle
onenickelmiracle
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August 23rd, 2014 at 2:35:27 AM permalink
Quote: Gandler

He's proposing a rebuttal to anytime somebody posts "you sound like a Nazi".

Too wordy and unnecessary.

History always gets repeated, can't do anything to stop it for the long run. Not by human beings anyways. Things can look fine line by line, then when you read the whole book, you see the problem.
I am a robot.
DrawingDead
DrawingDead
Joined: Jun 13, 2014
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August 23rd, 2014 at 2:46:15 AM permalink
I thought he was proposing a pre-emptive rebuttal to the invocation of Godwin's Law.

Which of course is just what Francisco Franco would do. Is he still dead?
"I'm against stuff like crack and math" --AxelWolf
FleaStiff
FleaStiff
Joined: Oct 19, 2009
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August 23rd, 2014 at 4:40:23 AM permalink
Quote: DrawingDead

just what Francisco Franco would do. Is he still dead?

Last I heard his condition is grave.
And why is this thread not in DT?
And warning to all. There is to be diversity....... so for every anti nazi slur there must be a pro nazi slur posted.
djatc
djatc
Joined: Jan 15, 2013
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August 23rd, 2014 at 5:54:27 AM permalink
Y'all are a bunch of Nazi facists and I am a bigot
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
24Bingo
24Bingo
Joined: Jul 4, 2012
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August 23rd, 2014 at 6:49:38 AM permalink
The reason it's not true anymore is because people started making fun of it, and rightly so.

The thing is, although Hitler truly did shape our collective psyche, bringing him into a conversation brings everything he did into a conversation, when very, very rarely is the person you're talking to all that likely to attempt ethnic cleansing or world conquest. It's an attempt to short-circuit reason and push emotional buttons; there are few cases indeed where there's actually a coherent point being made, other than "vaguely reminiscent of Hitler if you squint, therefore bad." In those few cases, I think you'll find people don't bring up Godwin's Law.
The trick to poker is learning not to beat yourself up for your mistakes too much, and certainly not too little, but just the right amount.
MrV
MrV
Joined: Feb 13, 2010
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August 23rd, 2014 at 7:14:18 AM permalink
I wonder if ANYBODY has named their son "Adolph" since WWII ended?

Certainly I have never run across an "Adolph" in America.
"What, me worry?"

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