Law of Spectral Identity

The principle that entities (concepts, arguments, people) are defined not by fixed properties but by their position on multiple intersecting spectra. Your identity isn't "logical person" or "illogical person"; it's a point in spectral space defined by your position on spectra of rigor, intuition, evidence-use, emotional reasoning, and countless others. The law of spectral identity means that no one is simply anything—we're all complex coordinates in multidimensional logical space. This explains why you can be brilliant in some contexts and hopeless in others, why someone can be a genius in their field and an idiot in daily life, and why "knowing someone" means understanding their spectral coordinates, not just slapping a label on them.

Example: "He tried to apply the law of spectral identity to his own thinking. He wasn't 'smart' or 'dumb'—he was high on the analytical spectrum, low on the emotional-intelligence spectrum, medium on the practical-reasoning spectrum. The coordinates explained why he could solve complex equations but couldn't read a room. Understanding his spectral identity didn't fix the room-reading problem, but it helped him stop calling himself stupid."

Law of Spectral Identity by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026

Law of Spectral Identity

The principle that identity itself is spectral—that entities (people, concepts, arguments) are defined not by fixed essences but by their positions on multiple intersecting spectra that shift over time. You are not a fixed self but a constantly moving point in spectral space, defined by your coordinates on spectra of personality, belief, emotion, relationship, and countless others. The law of spectral identity explains why you can feel like a different person in different contexts, why someone can be both kind and cruel, why a statement can be true in one framework and false in another. It's the logic of fluidity, of becoming rather than being, of the recognition that "who you are" is always a temporary answer to an ongoing question.

Example: "He tried to define himself for a dating profile—'adventurous,' 'laid-back,' 'foodie.' The law of spectral identity laughed at him. He was adventurous sometimes, cautious others; laid-back in some contexts, anxious in others; a foodie on weekends, a microwave-dinner person on weeknights. His identity wasn't a list of traits; it was a constantly shifting spectral coordinate. He wrote 'it's complicated' and hoped someone understood."

Law of Spectral Identity by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026

Law of Spectral Identity

A principle extending identity beyond strict equivalence to allow for degrees of sameness or similarity. Instead of “A = B or A ≠ B,” spectral identity recognizes that two things can be identical in some respects and different in others, and the identity relation can be graded (e.g., in fuzzy logic, “very similar,” “somewhat identical”). This law is crucial in dealing with vague predicates, gradual change, and family resemblance concepts.

Example: “Two photographs of the same person taken decades apart are not identical, but under the law of spectral identity they share a high degree of similarity—a spectrum of sameness.”

Law of Spectral Identity by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

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

schmegegge 

Yiddish slang word meaning bullshit, baloney, hogwash, nonsense, crock of shit or hot air.

I don't buy the schmegegge about Morty sleeping with Moira.
His version of the story was pure schmegegge.
The whole schmegegge was made up to get Liz a little bit of attention.

schmegegge by budsbabe February 1, 2008