It depends on the context

A reference to the 2023 congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. Specifically when asked "Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's policies?" Harvard's former president Claudine Gay replied: "It depends on the context."

I know they said "all Jews should die" but that might not be antisemitic, it depends on the context.

by ytz123 January 22, 2024

Asshole Poopy Content Farm

When someone makes a video that is bad

some stupid idiot made an Asshole Poopy Content Farm

by StanleyStudios March 7, 2024

Fallacy of Contextual Analysis

A fallacy that demands endless contextualization as a way of avoiding conclusions or action. "You can't understand this without understanding everything." The fallacy insists that any analysis is incomplete unless it includes all relevant context—a standard that can never be met, and therefore justifies never concluding anything. It's the logic of the scholar who never publishes, the activist who never acts, the debater who never takes a position. The Fallacy of Contextual Analysis is beloved of those who prefer analysis to action, who find endless complexity more comfortable than clear judgment. The cure is recognizing that context is infinite, but decisions are finite—that we must act on the best understanding we have, not wait for perfect understanding we'll never achieve.

Example: "She presented a clear case for action on climate change. He responded with the Fallacy of Contextual Analysis: 'But you haven't considered the economic context, the political context, the historical context, the global context...' Each context demanded another; each analysis required more. The action never happened because the context was always incomplete. The fallacy had done its work: replacing action with endless preparation."

by Dumu The Void February 20, 2026

Theory of Contextualist Epistemology

A framework for understanding knowledge as fundamentally context-dependent—what counts as knowledge, how much justification is needed, and what standards apply all shift with context. Contextualist Epistemology recognizes that knowledge isn't absolute; it's always knowledge-for-a-purpose, knowledge-in-a-situation. In everyday contexts, "I know the car is parked outside" requires a glance. In a courtroom, it requires more. In a philosophy seminar, it requires Cartesian certainty. The knowledge is the same; the standards shift with context. Contextualist Epistemology studies these shifts—how context shapes knowing, and what that means for knowledge claims.

Theory of Contextualist Epistemology "You say you know he's lying. Contextualist Epistemology asks: know for what purpose? Casual conversation? Courtroom? Relationship? The standards differ with context. Knowledge isn't absolute; it's contextual. What counts in one situation doesn't in another. Contextualism doesn't relativize truth; it relativizes standards—and that's a crucial difference."

by Dumu The Void March 3, 2026

Theory of Contextualist Science

A framework for understanding science as fundamentally context-dependent—what counts as good science, which methods are appropriate, and what standards apply all shift with context. Contextualist Science recognizes that science isn't context-free; it's always science-in-a-situation, science-for-a-purpose. Methods that work in physics may not work in ecology; standards that fit lab experiments may not fit field studies. Contextualist Science studies these shifts—how context shapes scientific practice, and what that means for scientific knowledge. It's science studies that takes seriously the diversity of scientific contexts.

Theory of Contextualist Science "You demand randomized controlled trials for everything. Contextualist Science says: RCTs work in some contexts, not others. Epidemiology uses different methods than particle physics; ecology uses different methods than molecular biology. Context matters. Science isn't one method; it's methods adapted to contexts. Contextualism isn't relativism—it's just paying attention."

by Dumu The Void March 3, 2026

Theory of Contextualist Sciences

A framework for understanding the plurality of sciences as context-dependent—each science shaped by its historical, institutional, and methodological context. Contextualist Sciences recognizes that physics is done in physics contexts, ecology in ecological contexts, and these contexts shape what counts as good science. There's no one-size-fits-all scientific method; there are methods adapted to contexts. Contextualist Sciences studies how context shapes each science, how methods migrate between contexts, and what happens when sciences are transplanted from their native contexts.

Theory of Contextualist Sciences "You try to apply physics methods to ecology. Contextualist Sciences says: different contexts, different methods. Ecology has its own history, its own questions, its own standards. Methods aren't portable without adaptation. Context matters. The sciences are many because contexts are many. Contextualism respects the diversity."

by Dumu The Void March 3, 2026

Urban Dictionary Content Guidelines

Urban Dictionary is made by a community of millions, including you. Anybody can post a definition, but in order to keep things fun for everyone, we ask you to follow a few rules:

Do's (tick)
- Write for a large audience. When defining a word, make sure to provide enough context for other people to understand what it means and how it’s typically used. Need a little help? Look to our WOTD for some examples.
- Be creative. Some of the best definitions on Urban Dictionary find humorous ways to poke fun at authority, or put a clever twist on current events. Some of them are just weird. We’re okay with that.
- Have fun. We are not a traditional dictionary. This is a place where language has a little more space to be explored and constructed freely, in the moment.

Dont's (X):
- Don’t post personal info. That includes obvious things like last names and addresses, but we will also remove definitions containing first names or user handles if they can be used to identify and target specific individuals for harassment.
- Don’t be an asshole. We are okay with people defining offensive words. After all, people use offensive words in the real world and a resource for understanding what those words mean can be valuable. However, we are not—and never will be—okay with people using a definition to harass, discriminate, and/or directly incite violence against others.

If you notice anything on Urban Dictionary that you believe falls outside of these guidelines, please flag it for review.

Person: Hmm! I thought of defining a word on Urban Dictionary today!
*The person goes to urbandictionary.com*
Person: Oh! I would need to read the Urban Dictionary Content Guidelines first before creating/defining a word! I should read it.

by 123defines January 27, 2025