Godwin's Law and Godwin's Corollary

[Admin]

Several have asked about my recent reference to "Godwin's Law" (a/k/a Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies).

Developed by Mike Godwin in the early 1990's, Godwin's Law states:

As a Usenet discussion [or discussion forum, or chat discussion] grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.

Godwin's Law also considers the reductio ad Hitlerum logical fallacy.

What it ultimately means here at RWD is:

• Topics that have an extensive 'life' are likely to see someone accusing another of engaging in Nazi, or Hitler-like, tactics.
• As this is a logical fallacy, the person introducing reference to Hitler or Nazi, has automatically lost the argument.

The OTHER dimension of Godwin's Law is Godwin's Corollary. Since we are a community that is interested, and somewhat informed, of the history of the Soviet Union, it is natural to consider Stalin's role in history and replace reference to Hitler with Stalin. Therefore, references to Stalin have the same effect as reference to Hitler when introduced into a topic.

Now knowing Godwin's Law and Godwin's Corollary, sit back and observe how often people will exercise those fallacious arguments.

- Dan