Godwin's Law

American  

[god-winz law] / ˈgɒd wɪnz ˈlɔ /

noun

1. an adage of internet culture stating that as any discussion or debate grows longer, there is a proportionate increase in the probability that someone will invoke a comparison to Hitler or the Nazi party.

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Etymology

Origin of Godwin's Law

Named after U.S. lawyer and author Mike Godwin (born 1956), who formulated the adage in 1991

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Godwin's Law

Back in the early days of the internet, there was a thing called Godwin's Law which held that "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches."

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2023

Such laziness led to an adage called Godwin’s Law: The longer an online discussion continues, the greater the likelihood of comparisons with Nazis and Hitler.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2022

Thousands of Reddit posts refer to Godwin’s Law, indicating a sizable portion of the community is familiar with the rule.

From Slate ● Jan. 24, 2022

On the one hand, Godwin’s Law is a somewhat-whimsical reminder that internet conversations can escalate quickly.

From Slate ● Jan. 24, 2022

However there is also a widely- recognized codicil that any intentional triggering of Godwin's Law in order to invoke its thread-ending effects will be unsuccessful.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Guy L. Steele

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