A framework for evaluating bullshit along eight key dimensions. The 8 axes are: 1) Truth-Indifference (how little the speaker cares about truth), 2) Evidence-Deficit (how unsupported the claim is), 3) Plausibility (how believable the claim is on its face), 4) Motivation (what the speaker gains from the bullshit), 5) Harm Potential (how much damage the bullshit can cause), 6) Virality (how likely it is to spread), 7) Resistance to Correction (how hard it is to debunk), and 8) Systemicity (whether it's isolated bullshit or part of a larger bullshit system). These axes allow for nuanced evaluation of bullshit, distinguishing between different types and degrees.
The 8 Axes of the Bullshit Spectrum *Example: "They stopped just calling things 'bullshit' and started mapping them on the 8 axes. The advertising claim was high on truth-indifference, low on harm potential. The conspiracy theory was high on everything—truth-indifference, harm, virality, resistance. The axes showed why one was annoying and the other dangerous—and why responding required different strategies."*
by Dumu The Void March 7, 2026
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