Definitions by Brokefast

Projection

A slide deck that everyone has been promised, everyone has prepared for, and nobody can successfully display.

Dave spent two hours saying ‘let me share my screen’ before we realized the quarterly report was a projection in every sense of the word.

Projection by Brokefast July 2, 2026

Displacement

The spontaneous migration of an important object to a location so improbable that its discovery is later described as an archaeological find.

I didn't lose my passport. It merely underwent displacement and was eventually recovered from a cookbook.

Displacement by Brokefast July 2, 2026

Avoidance

The productivity technique of postponing an unpleasant task until it becomes either somebody else's problem or a historical event.

I practiced avoidance on my taxes for so long that the reminder emails started sounding nostalgic.

Avoidance by Brokefast July 2, 2026

Transference

The act of forwarding an email, ticket, responsibility, or crisis to another person and immediately achieving inner peace.

Within seconds of receiving the customer complaint, Karen achieved complete transference by cc'ing three managers and logging off.

Transference by Brokefast July 2, 2026

Dissociation

A state in which the body remains present, responsive, and occasionally nodding, while the mind has emigrated without notice.

After the meeting entered its fourth hour, the entire department was experiencing dissociation; only the webcams remained engaged.

Dissociation by Brokefast July 2, 2026

Detachment

An attachment referred to in an email, message, or document but not actually included with it.

The report arrived as a detachment; the email mentioned three attached files, but none were attached.

Detachment by Brokefast July 2, 2026

Dog the wag

When ordinary people **flip the script on a “Wag the Dog” situation**—exposing, ignoring, or mocking the distraction created by those in power and forcing attention back onto the real issue. It’s when **the public outmaneuvers the propaganda**.

**In simple terms:**
When the people **call out the distraction and make it fail**.

**Origin / Idea:**
A reversal of **Wag the Dog**, where leaders create a fake crisis to distract the public. In **“Dog the Wag,”** the public recognizes the trick and **turns the distraction back on its creators**.

**Related concepts:**

* Crowd fact-checking
* Narrative judo
* Propaganda backfire

* *“They tried to start a culture war to hide the corruption scandal, but social media dug up the receipts. Total dog the wag.”*
* *“The government pushed a security scare, but protesters kept talking about food prices. Classic dog the wag.”*

Dog the wag by Brokefast March 9, 2026