A literary device where a character's pursuit of an ideal or unattainable desire is intensified by its fleeting, transient nature. This paradoxical longing becomes more powerful and all-consuming precisely because the object of desire is perpetually elusive or only exists as a constructed ideal rather than a tangible reality.
Daniel's relentless pursuit of Michael is an embodiment of the Ephemeral Idealization Paradox, where his desire for her grows more obsessive precisely because the perfect version of her he envisions exists only in the shimmering, unreachable past.
by jiangjiangism March 25, 2025
Get the Ephemeral Idealization Paradoxmug. A question you ask Siri/Alexa/Google/etcetera that causes it to malfunction and give you a not-quite-an-answer.
by XxLoneWolfxX April 11, 2022
Get the Paradoxmug. When you try to make a joke definition of an Urban dictionary link, but it says can't contain links in the definition, so you remove the link and submit it, thinking the problem is resolved and your funny joke is through. But then it says definition must have word in it, but the word is the source of the other problem.
Human: I can't wait to joke about urbandictionary's blog page!
*Human goes to website, adds definition, writes 'funny' definition, presses submit*
Website: There was 1 error that prohibited this form from being submitted (Links)
Human: Ok then, I will remove the link.
Website: There was 1 error that prohibited this form from being submitted (Not having the word in the example)
Human: HELP ME, I AM IN THE Urban Dictionary Paradox!!!!!!!
*Human goes to website, adds definition, writes 'funny' definition, presses submit*
Website: There was 1 error that prohibited this form from being submitted (Links)
Human: Ok then, I will remove the link.
Website: There was 1 error that prohibited this form from being submitted (Not having the word in the example)
Human: HELP ME, I AM IN THE Urban Dictionary Paradox!!!!!!!
by Trumpium March 17, 2022
Get the Urban Dictionary Paradoxmug. The stepford paradox is an ironic situation that occurs when life seems very rythmic and mundane day in and day out that it starts to seem odd. Liken to, if not insane.
The “Jones” are cutting their grass at 7:43am just like they have on every Tuesday morning for the last 7 years. It makes me feel like I’m living in The “Stepford Paradox”
by Greener Blues Hospitality LLC July 8, 2025
Get the The “Stepford Paradox”mug. The paradox that results when one smokes or otherwise inhales cannabis then, as a full grown adult, proceeds to watch children shows all the while claiming it is an adult show, despite the show being designed for toddlers.
by Dr15$ November 12, 2023
Get the The Bluey-weed Paradoxmug. Consistently being silent about or speaking out against those things that normally you speak out against or keep silent about as circumstances dictate.
Preacher Anthony captures himself in a Hypocrisy Paradox each time he rants against same sex marriage from the pulpit on Sunday after marrying a couple of fornicators on Saturday.
by snake plisskent June 2, 2020
Get the Hypocrisy Paradoxmug. A social phenomenon arising in the context of neoliberalism, a specific form of capitalism that not only encourages commodification but also promotes the moralization of that commodification. In this setting, individual gains, particularly those spurred by the moralization and normalization of commodified emotional labor, lead to collective losses. These losses manifest in forms such as systemic exploitation, increased mental health burdens, and perpetuated social inequalities. The paradox emerges from the mismatch between individual pursuits and collective well-being, exacerbated as governments and societal structures exploit surplus emotional labor, further normalizing its commodification. This exploitation, embedded in the dynamics of neoliberalism, contributes to the devaluation of collective emotional health and well-being.
A: you see that video of the nurse bike incident?
B: A Collective Devaluation Paradox.
A: wa?
B: A social phenomenon w/ often occurs in neoliberalism, a form of capitalism that not only encourages commodification but also promotes the moralization of that commodification. In situations like this, individual gains can lead to collective losses.
A: losses?
B: They manifest in various way, eg. systemic exploitation, increased mental health burdens, & perpetuated social inequalities. The paradox emerges from the mismatch between individual pursuit & collective well-being.
A: I see. So perhaps, in a world where emotional labor hadn't become moralized to become commodified, the men might have recognized the woman's situation - her role as a nurse, her apparent exhaustion & consider letting her take the bike as an act of kindness or empathy. But in our current society, where interpersonal interactions are often viewed through a capitalist lens, there's no societal expectation for them to do so. The moral obligation to consider the emotional state of others is diminished in the face of individual rights & possessions.
B: it doesn't stop there. Societal structures often exploit surplus emotional labor, which further normalizes its commodification. This exploitation, embedded in the dynamics of neoliberalism, contributes to the devaluation of collective emotional health & well-being. So, while everyone seeks individual gain, we have broader societal loss.
B: A Collective Devaluation Paradox.
A: wa?
B: A social phenomenon w/ often occurs in neoliberalism, a form of capitalism that not only encourages commodification but also promotes the moralization of that commodification. In situations like this, individual gains can lead to collective losses.
A: losses?
B: They manifest in various way, eg. systemic exploitation, increased mental health burdens, & perpetuated social inequalities. The paradox emerges from the mismatch between individual pursuit & collective well-being.
A: I see. So perhaps, in a world where emotional labor hadn't become moralized to become commodified, the men might have recognized the woman's situation - her role as a nurse, her apparent exhaustion & consider letting her take the bike as an act of kindness or empathy. But in our current society, where interpersonal interactions are often viewed through a capitalist lens, there's no societal expectation for them to do so. The moral obligation to consider the emotional state of others is diminished in the face of individual rights & possessions.
B: it doesn't stop there. Societal structures often exploit surplus emotional labor, which further normalizes its commodification. This exploitation, embedded in the dynamics of neoliberalism, contributes to the devaluation of collective emotional health & well-being. So, while everyone seeks individual gain, we have broader societal loss.
by cyberphunkisms May 15, 2023
Get the Collective Devaluation Paradoxmug.