Godwin's Law of Nazi Analogies
I just love it when a comment comes in that is designed to minimize something said, to end discussion of a Valid point by use of a 'quotation' that is inaccurate in itself.
This happened again today. The writer referred to GOODWIN's Law. Could it be a typo? I don't think so. Because this writer also has the 'law' wrong, and the use of it is not what Godwin stated.
Godwin's Law does not apply to Lori Kalner's email warning us of the use of propaganda, and this one, specifically the use of children. Godwin's Law of Nazi Analogies is NOT what the anonymous writer stated it is... Lori's email is an APPROPRIATE discussion, and is from a woman who LIVED, OBSERVED, LEARNED and is warning us about the kinds of propaganda used to bring Hitler to power. Hence, anonymous from Detroit MI will not end any discussion here of legitimate comparisons of then..and now... God bless!
Godwin's law was first formulated in 1990 by Mike Godwin. It reads:
As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.
In plain english: Sooner or later in a discussion, someone is going to compare something to either Hitler or NaziGermany.
A very popular addon to this rule is that whoever makes the Nazi/Hitler-comparsion automatically forfeits the argument in favor of his or hers opponent. This has been criticized several times with the argument that there are many occasions where such comparison actually can be valid. It should be noted that Godwin's law do not apply to discussions regarding genocide, propaganda or other attributes directly linked to NaziGermany.
Since the creation of the law, the term has spread to several different outlets. Among them are Slashdot, Wired, The Economist and The Smithsonian. The last one stated that when an adversary uses an inappropriate Hitler or Nazi comparison, 'you have only to say 'Godwin's Law' and a trapdoor falls open, plunging your rival into a pool of hungry crocodiles.'
This happened again today. The writer referred to GOODWIN's Law. Could it be a typo? I don't think so. Because this writer also has the 'law' wrong, and the use of it is not what Godwin stated.
Godwin's Law does not apply to Lori Kalner's email warning us of the use of propaganda, and this one, specifically the use of children. Godwin's Law of Nazi Analogies is NOT what the anonymous writer stated it is... Lori's email is an APPROPRIATE discussion, and is from a woman who LIVED, OBSERVED, LEARNED and is warning us about the kinds of propaganda used to bring Hitler to power. Hence, anonymous from Detroit MI will not end any discussion here of legitimate comparisons of then..and now... God bless!
Godwin's law was first formulated in 1990 by Mike Godwin. It reads:
As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.
In plain english: Sooner or later in a discussion, someone is going to compare something to either Hitler or NaziGermany.
A very popular addon to this rule is that whoever makes the Nazi/Hitler-comparsion automatically forfeits the argument in favor of his or hers opponent. This has been criticized several times with the argument that there are many occasions where such comparison actually can be valid. It should be noted that Godwin's law do not apply to discussions regarding genocide, propaganda or other attributes directly linked to NaziGermany.
Since the creation of the law, the term has spread to several different outlets. Among them are Slashdot, Wired, The Economist and The Smithsonian. The last one stated that when an adversary uses an inappropriate Hitler or Nazi comparison, 'you have only to say 'Godwin's Law' and a trapdoor falls open, plunging your rival into a pool of hungry crocodiles.'
posted by WI Catholic @ 10/14/2008 02:17:00 PM
With all due respect, the leap escapes me. How do we get from kids singing about Obama (a little sappy but cute) to Hitler?
Goodwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies states that there is a tradition in many newsgroups and other Internet discussion forums that once such a comparison is made, the thread is finished and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically "lost" whatever debate was in progress.
To my anonymous visitor from Detroit MI IP Address 76.226.5.103
Time of Visit Oct 14 2008 8:19:04 am
"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." George Santayana
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Better be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security." Edmund Burke
By the way, it is GODWIN, not GOODWIN's Law. And the part that YOU have used here is NOT from Godwin. It is designed to stop any accurate discussion of comparisons between today's events and historical events by minimizing what has been said to tripe. It will not work here.
God bless!