A botched attempt by former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in late 2002, demanding evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
"Well, I don't know ... a proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof, it's because it's been proven."
by BlastFurnace February 17, 2024
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The proof by lack of evidence fallacy is claiming something is true simply because nobody has yet given any evidence to the contrary.
Torturer: You are a heretic! You can't prove that you aren't one, so you are a heratic. Confess, or we will stretch your body out until you are a foot taller.
Accused: Ha, you did it - you committed the proof by lack of evidence fallacy!
Torturer: That's enough out of you. Brutus, give the wheel another turn.
Accused: Ha, you did it - you committed the proof by lack of evidence fallacy!
Torturer: That's enough out of you. Brutus, give the wheel another turn.
by DonutLoverr May 28, 2024
Get the Proof by lack of evidence mug.by dajinco December 6, 2024
Get the proof day mug.Biases related to what counts as proof, how much proof is required, and who gets to demand proof from whom. Proof Biases include: demanding impossible standards of proof from marginalized groups; accepting weak proof from powerful institutions; treating absence of proof as proof of absence; requiring proof for some claims but not others; using "proof" as a gatekeeping concept to dismiss what threatens established views. Proof Biases are about power as much as epistemology—who has to prove, who gets to demand proof, whose proof counts.
Proof Biases "They demanded proof of systemic racism. When shown statistics, they demanded personal stories. When shown stories, they demanded experiments. When experiments aren't possible, they concluded it doesn't exist. That's Proof Bias—moving the goalposts because you don't want to see. Proof isn't neutral when some have to prove and others just get to assert."
by Dumu The Void March 1, 2026
Get the Proof Biases mug.Second-order biases about proof—how we understand what counts as proof, how much proof is enough, and who gets to demand it. Proof Metabiases include: assuming that proof is possible in all domains; treating absence of proof as proof of absence; demanding impossible standards from some while accepting weak proof from others; using "proof" as a weapon rather than a standard; believing that proof settles things forever. Proof Metabiases are about the politics and psychology of proof—not just what proves what, but who gets to prove what to whom.
Proof Metabiases "He demands proof for her experience but accepts flimsy evidence for his views. That's Proof Metabias—applying different standards without noticing. Proof isn't neutral when some have to prove and others just get to assert. The metabias is thinking your proof demands are objective when they're actually strategic."
by Dumu The Void March 1, 2026
Get the Proof Metabiases mug.A sophisticated rhetorical tactic where one demands proof not to find truth, but to exhaust opponents and avoid engagement. Proof Sophism begins with reasonable requests—"source?" "evidence?"—but then relentlessly moves the goalposts. When a source is provided, it's dismissed as biased, outdated, or insufficient. When stronger evidence appears, the demand shifts to impossible standards: double-blind RCTs for historical claims, video evidence for events before cameras, personal testimony for statistical phenomena. The goal is not evidence but exhaustion—making the opponent chase an ever-receding horizon of proof until they give up. Proof Sophism weaponizes the very idea of proof, using the appearance of rigor to destroy the possibility of dialogue.
"She provided a study. 'That journal is biased,' he said. She found a meta-analysis. 'Too old.' She found a recent review. 'Not specific enough.' She found exactly what he asked for—and he demanded video evidence. Of a historical event. Proof Sophism: proof as infinite regress, evidence as exhaustion. He never wanted to know; he wanted her to quit."
by Dumu The Void March 8, 2026
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