Cognitive Paradigms

The frameworks of assumptions, concepts, and processes that shape how individuals and groups think, perceive, and understand. Cognitive Paradigms include mental models, conceptual schemes, cognitive styles, and ways of knowing—all the structures that shape how we make sense of the world. They're what cognitive science studies when it examines how minds work, but with the added recognition that these structures are not universal but vary across individuals, cultures, and contexts.

Example: "She thought everyone thought like her. Cognitive Paradigms showed her otherwise: different minds, different paradigms. Her way of thinking wasn't the way; it was a way."

by Abzugal March 9, 2026

Social Paradigms

The frameworks of assumptions, values, and practices that shape how societies organize themselves, how people relate to each other, how social reality is constructed. Social Paradigms include norms, institutions, power relations, and cultural categories—all the invisible structures that make social life possible. They're what we mean when we talk about "the way things are done"—which is always just one way among many, made to seem natural by its familiarity.

Example: "He thought his society's way of organizing gender was just natural. Social Paradigms showed him otherwise: it was one paradigm among many, constructed not given, contingent not necessary. Other societies did it differently; his could too."

by Abzugal March 9, 2026

Ivory Paradigms

Scientific paradigms understood as a form of ivory culture—the shared frameworks, assumptions, methods, and exemplars that define normal science within a community, but viewed through the lens of academic power rather than pure epistemology. Ivory paradigms are not just ways of seeing but ways of controlling—they determine who counts as a legitimate investigator, what questions are worth asking, which methods are acceptable, and how results will be interpreted. To work within an ivory paradigm is to be protected, funded, published, and celebrated. To work outside it is to be ignored, dismissed, or actively suppressed. The paradigm is ivory because it's not just a cognitive framework but a social institution, not just a way of knowing but a way of excluding.

Example: "His research was solid, but it didn't fit the reigning paradigm—so it was ignored, unfunded, unpublished. Ivory Paradigms: not just ways of seeing, but walls that keep certain things from being seen at all."

by Dumu The Void March 14, 2026

Pebble Parade

When a series of small turd nuggets fall out of a person's pant leg on their way to the toilet.

Jeremy threw a pebble parade after drinking 4 cups of coffee

by thespaceoutcadet June 16, 2025

Platinum Parachute

1. A souped up version of a golden parachute; a significant monetary payout by one's employer.

2: What a golden parachute want's to be when they grow up.

Hey, did you hear what happened to Matt? He threatened to sue and was awarded 8 figures in damages. What a platinum parachute that is!

by Reverend_Dude July 4, 2025

abusive para-social relationship

When you're manipulated by a content creator into thinking they're a good person but then you find out they're like a sex perfect or wife beating psycho, all the while you defended them without realizing they were taking advantage of you. Until they finally get exposed/canceled and your friend finally rescues you from said para-social relationship and you finally stop following them after all these years.

Nate - Man i used to watch Destiny all the time, but ever since the minor sexting and revenge porn I've kinda stopped following.
Kyra - really? you're finally getting out of that abusive para-social relationship?

by NateC123 August 23, 2025

Bum Drunk Parade

When you get so drunk it is obvious to people around you that you will permit anal sex if propositioned

Joan "Check out those completely pissed girls"

Karl "Bum Drunk Parade"

by laurab193 June 1, 2011