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steve2470

(37,456 posts)
Mon Mar 5, 2012, 06:36 PM Mar 2012

Internet rules and laws: the top 10, from Godwin to Poe

An old article from 2009 but still a goodie

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6408927/Internet-rules-and-laws-the-top-10-from-Godwin-to-Poe.html

1. Godwin’s Law

The most famous of all the internet laws, formed by Mike Godwin in 1990. As originally stated, it said: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." It has now been expanded to include all web discussions.

It is closely related to the logical fallacy “reductio ad Hitlerum”, which says “Hitler (or the Nazis) liked X, so X is bad”, frequently used to denigrate vegetarians and atheists.

Common Godwin's Law appearances include describing women's rights campaigners as “feminazis”, comparing the former US President George W Bush to Hitler, or saying Barack Obama's proposed healthcare reforms are the new Holocaust.

*end of excerpt*

More at link above, enjoy !

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Internet rules and laws: the top 10, from Godwin to Poe (Original Post) steve2470 Mar 2012 OP
R&K longship Mar 2012 #1
The true rules of the internet Drale Mar 2012 #2
Well, hell, I just learned something. malthaussen Mar 2012 #3
I love this one! Hatchling Mar 2012 #4
Good thing for Aquinas he's dead. malthaussen Mar 2012 #5
and.... I've seen every example on DU Confusious Mar 2012 #6
To be fair... Leftist Agitator Mar 2012 #7
I DON'T WEAR MY UNDERWEAR ON THE OUTSIDE!!!!! Iggo Mar 2012 #8
HAHAHA...YOU, Sir, are a dirty liar. (but well-played) Volaris Mar 2012 #9

malthaussen

(17,065 posts)
3. Well, hell, I just learned something.
Mon Mar 5, 2012, 07:14 PM
Mar 2012

I always thought "begs the question" meant to beg off the question -- ie, refuse to address it because one has no suitable retort. Puts me among the ignoramii, I guess.

-- Mal

Hatchling

(2,323 posts)
4. I love this one!
Mon Mar 5, 2012, 07:27 PM
Mar 2012

DeMyer's Second Law of Internet Debating states:
Anyone who posts an argument on the internet which is largely quotations, can be very safely ignored and is deemed to have lost the argument before it has begun.

Confusious

(8,317 posts)
6. and.... I've seen every example on DU
Mon Mar 5, 2012, 07:39 PM
Mar 2012

The "declaring yourself the winner" one a few weeks ago. I knew there was something wrong with the other person declaring themselves the winner of the debate, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.

( Oh, except for #5, I always get there late and the mess has already been cleaned up )
 

Leftist Agitator

(2,759 posts)
7. To be fair...
Mon Mar 5, 2012, 08:28 PM
Mar 2012

Both Adolf Hitler and George Bush did instigate aggressive wars against innocent nations based on a pack of lies.

In that sense, the comparison is completely valid.

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