Late-Stage Neopositivism

A contemporary revival of positivist attitudes, filtered through internet debate culture and a superficial engagement with science. Late‑stage neopositivists use phrases like "not even wrong," "science says," and "just a theory" to dismiss positions they dislike, while remaining unaware of the philosophical critiques that undid original positivism. They often wield the "burden of proof" as a weapon, set impossible evidentiary standards for others, and exempt their own beliefs from the same scrutiny. It's scientism as a social identity, not an epistemology.

Late-Stage Neopositivism Example: "He demanded she provide a double‑blind study for her personal experience of discrimination—late‑stage neopositivism, demanding scientific evidence where the question is ethical, not empirical."

Late-Stage Neopositivism by Abzugal May 5, 2026

Late‑Stage Neopositivism

The digital echo of neopositivism, where machine learning models and big data dashboards replace theory and interpretation. Late‑stage neopositivism treats correlation as causation, prediction as explanation, and training sets as reality. It is the ideology of the data scientist who has never read Karl Popper. It promises to solve social problems by optimising variables, while never asking what the variables mean or who set them.

Example: “The predictive policing algorithm was ‘evidence‑based,’ but its training data came from biased arrests—late‑stage neopositivism, garbage in, gospel out.”

Late‑Stage Neopositivism by Abzugal May 5, 2026

jerb 

well known from south park
rednecks get angrry that future folk took there jobs so they yell
They took ouare jerbs!

Them future folk took ouare jerbs!

jerb by Jimberley Kim April 7, 2005

Cheeks 

An Irish phrase meaning shit, derived from ass
(Not to be confused with the literal description of one's buttocks)

"Did you hear the song Aylek$ dropped?"
"Hardly. Her music is absolute cheeks."

"My boyfriend say LaFlame is cheeks."
"Tell your boyfriend I said it's his mixtape that's cheeks."

Cheeks by thecartisan April 26, 2020

sans sheriff 

Lawless use of fonts or typography, with no regard to aesthetics or legibility

I'm putting this CV straight in the bin. Written totally sans sheriff.

sans sheriff by Jamarley July 3, 2019

Breadhead 

Someone who is addicted to obtaining money and building wealth. A money addict and fanatic. Breadheads often work more than one full-time job, and some even participate in illicit activities to "obtain the bread".

A breadhead is like a crackhead, but for money instead of crack.

Breadhead by 🅱️ U S 3 4 8 March 30, 2022

Stink lines

As seen in illustrations or cartoons: Wavy, vertical lines rising above a person, place or thing. Denotes a foul odor.

"You didn't put enough stink lines on your picture of the teacher."

Stink lines by Athene Airheart March 14, 2004