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Godwin's Law

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Norman

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Jul 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/22/99
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As this comparison rears its head in most of the posts here I though you
all may be interested in Goodwin's Law which I found posted in another
ng.

The Jargon Dictionary
(http://www.netmeg.net/jargon/terms/g/godwin_s_law.html) says:

"Godwin's Law /prov./ [Usenet] "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the

probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one."
There is a tradition in many groups that, once this occurs, that thread
is over, and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost whatever

argument was in progress. Godwin's Law thus practically guarantees the
existence of an upper bound on thread length in those groups."

Now wouldn't this reduce some of the crap posted?

Norman

Ludwig

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Jul 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/22/99
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Nazi.

Ludwig :o)


Norman <eg...@connect.ab.ca> wrote in message
news:3796D8E1...@connect.ab.ca...

Mark Richardson

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Jul 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/22/99
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What a good idea. Although both Nazis and Hitler have been referred to from
time to time are there not more appropriate shibboleths to this ng that
could be invoked? There is the occasional problem that such references might
actually be germane to the thread - as in an historical reference.

Mark Richardson

HWM

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Jul 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/25/99
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Mark Richardson wrote:
> There is the occasional problem that such references might
> actually be germane to the thread - as in an historical reference.
^^^^^^^
I thought Onkel Adi was Austrian 8-P

--
Cheers, | The conformity of purpose will be achieved |
HWM | through the mutual satisfaction of requirements.|
==> hen...@GNWmail.com & http://www.softavenue.fi/u/henry.w

Norman

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Jul 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/27/99
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HWM wrote:

> Mark Richardson wrote:
> > There is the occasional problem that such references might
> > actually be germane to the thread - as in an historical reference.
> ^^^^^^^
> I thought Onkel Adi was Austrian 8-P

That reminds me of a funny true story (well I thought it was funny.
An Irish friend of mine used to work for an Austrian firm in Alrode. He
& another division manager were always bickering & it would usually end
up with Brian saying, "you bloody Krauts are all the same" & when Dieter
said indignantly, "I am not German, I am Austrian", Brian would retort
"you speak the same language" & walk off. This culminated at an
industrial expo at the old Rand show grounds when Dieter took exception
to Brian wearing his RAF blazer & tie (It was Sept. 15th) & said, "you
bloody English won't let the war die will you?" Well Brian erupted with
"I'm not English, I'm Irish" at which Dieter walked away laughing with
the last word, "But you speak the same language".
OK Its not that funny but I laughed when an indignant Brian was telling
it at the watering hole that night.

Norman

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