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From EFF lawyer Mike Godwin: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." The thing about it is, this is usually the point where intelligent conversation stops. Hopefully, this is the point where all conversation stops, but it isn't always the case. The side that invokes the comparison loses.

Gordon's Restatement of Newman's Corollary to Godwin's Law
Libertarianism (pro, con, and internal faction fights) is the primordial net.news discussion topic. Any time the debate shifts somewhere else, it must eventually return to this fuel source.

Morgan's Corollary to Godwin's Law
As soon as such a comparison occurs, someone will start a Nazi-discussion thread on alt.censorship.

Sircar's Corollary
If the Usenet discussion touches on homosexuality or Heinlein, Nazis or Hitler are mentioned within three days.

Van der Leun's Corollary
As global connectivity improves, the probability of actual Nazis being on the Net approaches one.

Miller's Paradox
As a network evolves, the number of Nazi comparisons not forestalled by citation to Godwin's Law converges to zero.

See also JargonFile:GodwinsLaw.

[Meme, Counter-meme] - interview with Mike Godwin

[Godwin's law FAQ]


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