Definitions by Dumu The Void
The Phenomenon of the Elite Out of the Closet
This refers to the observable social and political behaviors characteristic of this open elitism. It manifests in discourse (public figures making unabashedly classist statements), in policy (laws that create separate systems for the rich and poor), and in culture (the normalization of extreme wealth and the dehumanization of the poor). It's a phenomenon often marked by a sense of impunity, as the elite feel so secure in their power that they no longer fear public backlash for their selfishness.
"Look at the proposal for luxury tax exemptions that are funded by cuts to public healthcare. That's not just bad policy; it's a manifestation of the Phenomenon of the Elite Out of the Closet—a complete breakdown of social solidarity from the top down."
The Phenomenon of the Elite Out of the Closet by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026
Theory of the Elite Out of the Closet
This theory posits that ruling-class ideology operates in cycles. During periods of stability, the elite maintain hegemony by framing their interests as universal (e.g., "a rising tide lifts all boats"). However, during times of crisis or perceived threat to their power, this narrative collapses, and they enter a phase of "open elitism." In this phase, they abandon universalist language and explicitly argue for policies that create a two-tiered society—luxury for themselves and austerity for everyone else. The "out of the closet" metaphor is apt because it signifies a shift from implicit, structural bias to explicit, rhetorical class warfare from above.
"The Theory of the Elite Out of the Closet explains why we're suddenly hearing arguments for 'golden visas' for the rich while social safety nets are being slashed. It's not a contradiction; it's the elite dropping the pretense of a shared society."
Theory of the Elite Out of the Closet by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026
Elite Out of the Closet
A sociological term for the moment when a society's dominant class stops pretending to care about the common good and openly, brazenly advocates for policies designed to entrench their own privilege. It's the end of "trickle-down" rhetoric and the beginning of "let them eat cake" policy. The "coming out" isn't about revealing a hidden identity, but about publicly shedding the mask of shared prosperity and embracing naked classism. This phenomenon is often triggered when the gap between the elite's interests and the public welfare becomes too wide to plausibly bridge with traditional propaganda.
"Did you see that op-ed where a billionaire argued that taxing the rich is 'theft' while simultaneously pushing to cut school lunch funding? That's the Elite Out of the Closet. They're not even trying to hide their self-interest anymore; they're just flaunting it."
Elite Out of the Closet by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026
Social Sciences of History
The empirical study of how history is produced, contested, and consumed as a social activity. Social Sciences of History includes historiography, sociology of historical knowledge, and memory studies. It examines how historical narratives are constructed, how they serve present interests, how they're taught and remembered, how they shape identity. It reveals that history isn't just the past—it's what we say about the past, and that saying is always social.
"History is what happened. Social sciences of history asks: says who? Based on what sources? Told by whom? For what audience? History is always told from somewhere, and social science shows the somewhere that textbooks hide. Not to deny the past, but to understand how we know it."
Social Sciences of History by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026
Social Sciences of Progress
The empirical study of progress as a social phenomenon—how societies understand, measure, and pursue progress. Social Sciences of Progress examines how progress narratives shape policy, how progress is distributed, who benefits from claims of progress, and how progress is contested. It reveals that progress isn't just a fact—it's a story societies tell themselves, with real consequences for who gets what.
"We're making progress, they say. Social sciences of progress asks: progress for whom? Measured how? Compared to what? Who's left out of the story? Progress isn't just a fact; it's a narrative, and social science shows who writes it and who's written out."
Social Sciences of Progress by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026
Social Sciences of Technology
The empirical study of technology as a social phenomenon—how technologies are developed, adopted, resisted, and transformed by social forces. Social Sciences of Technology includes science and technology studies (STS), history of technology, sociology of technology, and technology studies. It examines how technologies shape society and how society shapes technologies, revealing that technology is never just tools—it's politics, culture, and power made material.
"You think technology is neutral. Social sciences of technology asks: then why do different societies develop different technologies? Why do technologies have different impacts in different contexts? Why do some technologies fail and others succeed for non-technical reasons? Technology is social, and social science shows how."
Social Sciences of Technology by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026
Social Sciences of Engineering
The empirical study of engineering as a social activity—how engineers work, how design happens, how values shape technology, how engineering communities function. Social Sciences of Engineering examines engineering education, professional norms, design practices, and the social impacts of engineering decisions. It reveals that engineering isn't just technical problem-solving—it's social practice with social consequences.
"Engineering is just applied science, they say. Social sciences of engineering asks: then why do engineers rely so much on tacit knowledge? Why do designs reflect cultural values? Why do some technologies fail socially even when they work technically? Engineering is human, and social science shows how."
Social Sciences of Engineering by Dumu The Void March 2, 2026