Godwin's Law: classic or dud?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I say a big dud, when invoked to shut someone down and invalidate their argument.

a) It's not logical to criticise an argument on the strength of a poor or hackneyed analogy. All you can do is say "that analogy is bad and doesn't do its work", but you can't logically extend that to say that the argument is bad.

b) Nazi/Hitler analogies are overused, but there are still plenty of cases where they may be apt. It would be ridiculous to argue that any Nazi/Hitler analogy is a priori worthless. The worthlessness has to be shown, rather than simply evoking yet another hackneyed trope like Godwin's Law.

― Simon W., Friday, 10 March 2006 12:18 (nineteen years ago)

http://ilx.wh3rd.net/searchresults.php?box=true&q=godwin%27s&board=1

I think it is a bit dud

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 10 March 2006 12:27 (nineteen years ago)

leave it alone, it's done no harm.

― not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 10 March 2006 12:29 (nineteen years ago)

that's what nazi germany said

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 10 March 2006 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

This thread has been locked by Hitler.

― Momus (Momus), Friday, 10 March 2006 13:28 (nineteen years ago)

Now would be a really good time for that "Hitler eating a watermelon" animated gif.

― Fish is Biodegradable! (That Means It Rots) (kate), Friday, 10 March 2006 13:30 (nineteen years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/Bronzeth/hitlermelon.gif

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Friday, 10 March 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

You know, I've seen that thing at least six million times, and it's still funny.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 10 March 2006 17:44 (nineteen years ago)

"six million" huh

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 10 March 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

Classic, as shorthand for USE BETTER ANALOGIES PLS.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 10 March 2006 17:49 (nineteen years ago)

the only analogies my roommate is comfortable using are based on war, though he's usually tasteful enough for them NOT to be directly related to nazis/hitler/the holocaust.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Friday, 10 March 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

was "6 million" a holocaust casualty analogy?

(or is that what slocki meant?)

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 10 March 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

Wiki's definition of Godwin's Law is this:

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches".

Which is hard to argue with, especially at places like Indymedia.

Whether or not invoking the nazis is a BAD THING in all circumstances is another matter entirely.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Friday, 10 March 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

Ah. See, I thought it was that a comparison to Hitler or Nazis means that any discussion has reached the end of its useful life.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 10 March 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

And in the classroom, indoctrinating our youth.

― Hunter (Hunter), Friday, 10 March 2006 20:53 (nineteen years ago)

ten years pass...

FB Democrats now guaranteeing Trump will be worse than Hitler

wasn't expecting to see this before October 28

― helpless before THRILLARY (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 19 June 2016 09:59 (nine years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.