The Logical Fallacy's definitions

sewer socialism

Originally a pejorative term for the the Socialist Party of America, sewer socialism is a form of socialism that focuses on improving quality of life from the ground up instead of reform through revolution. Examples include sanitation systems, city-owned water and power, improved quality of education and so on. Also known as Constructive Socialism, and is considered a pregenitor to Democratic Socialism.

"We wanted our workers to have pure air, we wanted them to have sunshine, we wanted planned homes, we wanted living wages; we wanted recreation for young and old; we wanted vocational education; we wanted a chance for every human being to be strong and live a life of happiness.

And, we wanted everything that was necessary to give them that: playgrounds, parks, lakes, beaches, clean creeks and rivers, swimming and wading pools, social centers, reading rooms, clean fun, music dance song and joy for all."
-- Emil Seidel, Milwaukee's first socialist mayor, describing his sewer socialism platform

by The Logical Fallacy August 7, 2023

performative cruelty

Putting on a show of belittling, bullying and/or humiliating someone outside of an in-group for the purposes of placating or entertaining those within the group. Usually done to present oneself as "badass" or "hardcore".

In an age of performative cruelty,

kindness is punk as fuck.
Be punk as fuck.

by The Logical Fallacy April 11, 2025

Futurism over Function

When certain features or basic functions present on a new product are changed for the sake of "innovation" with no consideration for practicality.

"It just feels like the thought process was 'well, let's change these designs, because that's what innovators do. And also it will get attention,' without actually improving on the old designs, or thinking about actual problems with the old designs that could be solved. See, what's happening here is not uncommon for Tesla and some other car companies, but specifically any of Elon's companies. I don't know if there's a name for it yet, so I'm just gonna call it Futurism over Function."
--> Cybertruck? More Like Cyber-Sucks! – SOME MORE NEWS

by The Logical Fallacy October 13, 2024

Happenings

An art event, often staged or pre-scripted, that requires active participation from an audience to come to full fruition.

Fluxus art involved the viewer, relying on the element of chance to shape the ultimate outcome of the piece. The use of chance was also employed by Dada, Marcel Duchamp, and other performance art of the time, such as Happenings.

by The Logical Fallacy May 13, 2017

passive goth

A person who has a passive fascination with gothic subjects (the night, despair, the night, wearing black, Hot Topic, Tim Burton, the night, etc.), but compared to an active goth, could not be identified as goth immediately on sight. They tend to not take the more dramatic lifestyle commonly associated with other goths, and are considered "moderate" in comparison. Can usually be identified by wearing all black and/or having a dark sense of humor. Not to be confused with emos or beatniks.

"You see that guy over there?"
"Who?"
"The art student in a black sweater and sunglasses."
"Oh, you mean the passive goth."
"Passive goth?"
"Yeah, you know, a goth that you wouldn't think was a goth till you ask them about how their day went. Shit gets creepy really quick."

by The Logical Fallacy July 8, 2016

Transtextuality

The method by which a text connects itself to another text.

Transtextuality takes on five different forms: Intertext, Metatext, Paratext, Hypertext and Architext.

According to Gérard Genette transtextuality is "all that sets the text in relationship, whether obvious or concealed, with other texts" and it "covers all aspects of a particular text".

by The Logical Fallacy September 2, 2017

Aligherian

An adjective that applies to ironic punishment, often one that fits the crime or foible they are being punished for.

Named after Dante Alighieri, who's epic poem "Inferno" made the punishments of the damned ironic to the sins they were being tortured for.

So the guy who beat dogs in life is being torn apart by hellhounds for eternity? How Aligherian.

by The Logical Fallacy February 19, 2024