Difference between revisions of "Godwin's law"
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| − | [[category:adages]][[Godwin's Law]] is an [[adage]] or conversational guideline having to do with the use of comparisons to [[Adolf Hitler]] or [[Nazi]]sm. | + | [[page type::article]] |
| + | [[thing type::adage]] | ||
| + | [[category:adages]] | ||
| + | </hide> | ||
| + | ==About== | ||
| + | [[Godwin's Law]] is an [[adage]] or conversational guideline having to do with the use of comparisons to [[Adolf Hitler]] or [[Nazi]]sm. | ||
The law was originally stated in 1990 by Mike Godwin in this form: | The law was originally stated in 1990 by Mike Godwin in this form: | ||
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A tradition has also emerged that the first time such a comparison is made, the conversation is over and the person who made the comparison automatically loses the argument; this is sometimes referred to as "Godwin's Corollary", though a more accurate term would be "Godwin's [Law] tradition". | A tradition has also emerged that the first time such a comparison is made, the conversation is over and the person who made the comparison automatically loses the argument; this is sometimes referred to as "Godwin's Corollary", though a more accurate term would be "Godwin's [Law] tradition". | ||
| − | === | + | ==Legitimate Usage== |
| + | ===StaCW=== | ||
The [[blog]] [[Submitted to a Candid World]] has [http://www.acandidworld.net/2009/04/17/your-papers-please-birther-publication-tacitly-links-itself-to-nazism/ proposed] that inclusion of the following language should negate the effects of the Godwin's Law tradition: | The [[blog]] [[Submitted to a Candid World]] has [http://www.acandidworld.net/2009/04/17/your-papers-please-birther-publication-tacitly-links-itself-to-nazism/ proposed] that inclusion of the following language should negate the effects of the Godwin's Law tradition: | ||
<blockquote>I, being duly sworn, depose and say: | <blockquote>I, being duly sworn, depose and say: | ||
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</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| − | ===Issuepedia | + | ===Issuepedia=== |
It has become clear that Godwin's tradition hinders the [[free expression of ideas]] when such a comparison is actually legitimate, as became increasingly the case during the presidency of [[George W. Bush]]. We therefore propose the following modification to this tradition: | It has become clear that Godwin's tradition hinders the [[free expression of ideas]] when such a comparison is actually legitimate, as became increasingly the case during the presidency of [[George W. Bush]]. We therefore propose the following modification to this tradition: | ||
* Anyone who makes a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler must immediately state the grounds upon which they are making this comparison, otherwise they automatically lose the argument. | * Anyone who makes a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler must immediately state the grounds upon which they are making this comparison, otherwise they automatically lose the argument. | ||