This law comes into play when a person uses the phrases "shouldn't we be focusing on the soliders" or "shouldn't we be focusing on the war?" when they deem a certain news item frivolous. The longer the conversation about said 'frivolous" news goes on, the more likely it is that someone will bring up soldiers or war and that others will start parroting the phrase. It's often used to shut down a conversation, after all, who can argue that the news shouldn't be focusing on the war or on soldiers? However, they person using Roddan's law is rightfully ignored.
"I can't believe that they're showing all this news about this celebrity!" cried Bob "Why don't they focus this much on our real heroes, the soldiers?"
"If you're so worried about the soldiers, why don't you donate to the veterans or volunteer to work with them?" asked Jim.
"Nah. I just wanna sit in my chair, sip my beer, and say 'oh, that's so sad' or 'man, that's a true hero!' when the news comes on. Makes me feel like a patriotic American!"
"Roddan's Law" said Jim and shook his head sadly.
"If you're so worried about the soldiers, why don't you donate to the veterans or volunteer to work with them?" asked Jim.
"Nah. I just wanna sit in my chair, sip my beer, and say 'oh, that's so sad' or 'man, that's a true hero!' when the news comes on. Makes me feel like a patriotic American!"
"Roddan's Law" said Jim and shook his head sadly.
by Sakano July 13, 2009
Get the Roddan's Lawmug. "Old school" dress-codes dat are so incredibly outdated dat da rule-books in which said long-obsolete directives are written have been merely sitting on a back shelf somewhere for decades.
I agree dat torso-and-legs-covering swimsuits are an example of modusty laws, but women's wearing just a skimpy "whale-tail" thong and two tiny triangles up top seems like going too far in da other direction.
by QuacksO November 11, 2024
Get the modusty lawsmug. My nephew-in-law is a good person.
by KOBO8956 September 22, 2021
Get the nephew-in-lawmug. pibling-in-law.
by Simaduria July 26, 2024
Get the pibling-in-lawmug. 
"The desirability of and/or your need for an item at a garage sale will be in direct inverse proportion to the likelihood of your actually being able to purchase it."
The four most common/infuriating occasions when Murphy's Law of Garage Sales holds true:
(1) A desired item is something that's just stored in the family's garage; it’s not one of the items for sale.
(2) The item has already been sold, and the homeowner is just “holding” it till the buyer gets back with either the money or a vehicle to transport the item to his own home.
(3) The item is too expensive, and the seller will not budge on the price. (Note: this is not always an "all hope is lost" situation --- you may have at least two additional options. First, try coming back again later in the day to see if the item is still unsold --- if YOU think that the item is overpriced, then most OTHER yard-sailers may think so, too, and so nobody else may have bought the item yet, either, giving you a second crack at possibly purchasing it at a reduced price, especially since by now the seller may likely feel a bit "desperate" to get rid of it. And second, have a glance at the trash-heap out front of the person’s house that evening --- sometimes unsold yard-sale items will simply be tossed out, and so you can then get them for free.)
(4) The item is something that you would logically want to test out first to make sure it operates satisfactorily, but there is no hookup for electricity/water/telephone/internet/antenna/audio/video at the site of the sale, and the stubborn owner will not allow you to either bring the item into his house or temporarily take it somewhere else to test it.
(1) A desired item is something that's just stored in the family's garage; it’s not one of the items for sale.
(2) The item has already been sold, and the homeowner is just “holding” it till the buyer gets back with either the money or a vehicle to transport the item to his own home.
(3) The item is too expensive, and the seller will not budge on the price. (Note: this is not always an "all hope is lost" situation --- you may have at least two additional options. First, try coming back again later in the day to see if the item is still unsold --- if YOU think that the item is overpriced, then most OTHER yard-sailers may think so, too, and so nobody else may have bought the item yet, either, giving you a second crack at possibly purchasing it at a reduced price, especially since by now the seller may likely feel a bit "desperate" to get rid of it. And second, have a glance at the trash-heap out front of the person’s house that evening --- sometimes unsold yard-sale items will simply be tossed out, and so you can then get them for free.)
(4) The item is something that you would logically want to test out first to make sure it operates satisfactorily, but there is no hookup for electricity/water/telephone/internet/antenna/audio/video at the site of the sale, and the stubborn owner will not allow you to either bring the item into his house or temporarily take it somewhere else to test it.
by QuacksO August 1, 2018
Get the Murphy's Law of Garage Salesmug.