Ridicule Effect occurs when a person's statement or belief system is so outlandish or bizarre that others make fun of it and the speaker, thereby diminishing the speaker's credibility and intellectual ability, usually permanently.
Defined in book "Just Kidding" by Louis Franzini, published by Rowman & Littlefield (2012).
Former U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle made innumerable "misstatements" which ultimately evaporated his legitimacy and future officeholding, due to the Ridicule Effect. For example, "We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
by Lieu May 21, 2020
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