Fallacy of Specific Deprivation (also "Communism Killed Millions" Fallacy)

A fallacy that focuses on specific, often well-documented atrocities while ignoring the broader context of suffering in which they occurred. The fallacy presents, for example, the Holodomor or the Killing Fields as uniquely communist evils, while ignoring that Ukraine also suffered under tsarist rule, Nazi occupation, and capitalist shock therapy—or that Cambodia was devastated by US bombing before the Khmer Rouge took power. Specifying deprivation allows the fallacy-user to condemn particular events while absolving the systems that created the conditions for those events. It's history as highlight reel, atrocity as argument-ender.

Fallacy of Specific Deprivation (also "Communism Killed Millions" Fallacy) Example: "He brought up the Holodomor every time someone mentioned socialism, as if one event could settle the question of an entire system. The Fallacy of Specific Deprivation meant he never had to address the millions who died under capitalism, under colonialism, under 'democracy.' One famine, endlessly repeated, did all his arguing for him."

by Dumu The Void February 20, 2026

Fallacy of Absolute Privation (Fallacy of Communism Killed Millions)

A logical fallacy where someone dismisses an entire ideology, system, or idea by pointing to its worst outcomes, stripped of all context, history, and mitigating factors. The name comes from the classic "Communism killed millions" argument—which isn't false on its face, but becomes fallacious when used to end all discussion without examining specific contexts, variations, alternatives, or comparative harms. The Fallacy of Absolute Privation isolates the worst instances, treats them as the whole truth, and uses suffering as a conversation-stopper. It's not that the suffering isn't real—it's that citing it without context, comparison, or analysis is a rhetorical weapon, not an argument. Any system, ideology, or idea can be condemned by its worst expressions; the fallacy is pretending that's the end of the story.

Fallacy of Absolute Privation (Fallacy of Communism Killed Millions) "We were discussing educational reforms, and someone mentioned learning from Nordic models. Response: 'Nordic socialism? You mean like Communism that killed millions?' That's the Fallacy of Absolute Privation—conflating Nordic social democracy with Soviet communism, ignoring all context, and using historical tragedy to shut down discussion of school lunch programs."

by Dumu The Void February 24, 2026

Communicattal

Adj. describing the spelling of a word not is it sounds as in phonetics but as it is commonly spelt in written communication.

The communicattal spelling of the word yacht is quite different to the phonetical spelling of the word yacht (yot).

by Tung-Chi May 28, 2009

communificate

Trying to sound very intelligent, but using vernacular which does not really relate to what is being discussed.
Verbal subterfuge.

Whenever she's around rich people she always starts to communificate like she's one of them.

by theguitaristfromhell April 18, 2011

communicaution

The term given to a call where the person you will be speaking with is known to be hostile.

Hey Jeff, you need to call Maria, it's very likely going to be a communicaution

by dyslexible June 29, 2011

Communidrunkification

1. The result being so intoxicated as to be unable to communicate any thoughts properly, while simultaneously believing oneself to be completely articulate. Grammar, alliteration and pronunciation become askew, even non-existent, once someone is inebriated to the point of communidrunkification.

2. The point when two or more sloppy drunks reach a perfect understanding or revelation, though their inebriated ramblings may appear incoherent to more sober onlookers.

"I tried to pick that chick up but my communidrunkification was hella off"

also

"I couldn't understand a word those two were talking about, they were to deep in communidrunkification."

by C Ruzz October 4, 2012

communibate

To utilize a modern communication device or software beyond necessity to a level of unhealthy immediate personal gratification.

How can you expect to do well on such a big test if you're going to communibate on your twitter all night.

by NoahGreen January 2, 2012