Having good behavior when being monitored, but bad behavior when no one is looking.
Based on the 2015 scandal where Volkswagen cars were discovered to have low emissions when the vehicle's system could tell it was being emission tested.
Based on the 2015 scandal where Volkswagen cars were discovered to have low emissions when the vehicle's system could tell it was being emission tested.
My son is nice to his sister when I'm around, but I worry about a Volkswagen Effect when he knows I can't see them.
by Mad Jim June 5, 2017
Get the Volkswagen Effectmug. (Noun) - the process of elaborate, underhanded, yet whimsical deceit of an unwitting stranger, usually emphasizing the use of telecommunication devices and web-based social networking forums and/or media platforms. The Sandy Effect cannot be borne through malicious intent, only through the serendipitous collision of an unsuspecting victim and an unsuspecting "Sandy."
Person 1: Did you hear about Stacey? She wasted the whole week texting some random guy who she thought was her TA.
Person 2: Oh snap, no way! Another victim of "The Sandy Effect"...
Person 2: Oh snap, no way! Another victim of "The Sandy Effect"...
by EffectiveSandy June 25, 2009
Get the The Sandy Effectmug. When you are up by 2 or more touchdowns going into the 2nd half of a game of NFL blitz and suddenly your opponent develops super human powers, making catches that are not humanly possible, and forcing fumbles like the football is covered in crisco.
Me: Dude, I was beating mike so bad at blitz last night, like 50 to 0 at half.
Friend: Yea? what happened?
Me: Blitz effect dude, he beat me 51-50
Friend: oh, shitty
Friend: Yea? what happened?
Me: Blitz effect dude, he beat me 51-50
Friend: oh, shitty
by bigmckale October 2, 2009
Get the Blitz Effectmug. The effect that happens when the particularly obnoxious fanbase of a video game lowers your opinion of the game itself. It is important to remember that a horrible fanbase does not necessarily make a bad game.
"I don't know man, I'm seriously getting sick of hearing about Skyrim. Do I even want to bother with a game that only meme-spewing idiots seem to enjoy?"
"Don't bash the game itself until you play it- you're getting the FF7 effect, dude."
"Don't bash the game itself until you play it- you're getting the FF7 effect, dude."
by The Taxmaster January 16, 2013
Get the FF7 Effectmug. When you see a commercial so many times, you start to hate the product even if you used to be an avid fan before.
Hulu typically displays the same ads to people for 2-3 weeks in a row, making it's viewers go insane.
Hulu typically displays the same ads to people for 2-3 weeks in a row, making it's viewers go insane.
"I have seen the same Toyota ad so many times on Hulu that I wish all Toyotas would explode."
"It's the HULU Effect!"
"It's the HULU Effect!"
by HuluAnnoysMe November 3, 2011
Get the Hulu Effectmug. I heard a song that actually sounded pretty good, and then Pitbull started rapping. Damn Pitbull Effect.
by NMBP July 11, 2015
Get the Pitbull Effectmug. The effect that happens in a situation where an innocent bystander is accused and punished for committing an action or crime that they did not make because the real perpetrator is too famous or essential to be punished.
This is referenced by the infamous incident where an episode of Pokémon was aired in Japan and gave numerous kids seizures due to rapidly flashing lights, caused by an attack from Pikachu. Since Pikachu was and still is the poster boy for the Pokémon franchise, Porygon, the starring Pokémon of the episode, was blamed and punished instead despite not being responsible for it.
This is referenced by the infamous incident where an episode of Pokémon was aired in Japan and gave numerous kids seizures due to rapidly flashing lights, caused by an attack from Pikachu. Since Pikachu was and still is the poster boy for the Pokémon franchise, Porygon, the starring Pokémon of the episode, was blamed and punished instead despite not being responsible for it.
Person 1: Why am I being punished for something I didn't do? It was clearly Jimmy's fault!
Person 2: It's the Porygon Effect; Jimmy's too important to be punished.
Person 2: It's the Porygon Effect; Jimmy's too important to be punished.
by Bloodwar March 12, 2021
Get the Porygon Effectmug.