The Logical Fallacy's definitions

American Exceptionalism

A patriotism-based political belief that states that the United States of America is unique or exceptional when compared with the historical development of other countries, and is thus considered better than other countries regardless of context.

More extreme cases of this have led to white-washing of historical events, propaganda and violation of international law under the pretense that "it's not a crime when America does it."

America's greatness, America's exceptional greatness, is not based on that fact that we are the most powerful, most prosperous - and most generous - nation on earth. Rather, those things are the result of American Exceptionalism.
-- Newt Gingrich

by The Logical Fallacy September 23, 2016

Catastrophizing

A psychotherapeutic term for a cognitive distortion where anxiety or depression leads you to infer apocalyptic conclusions from mundane setbacks and anxieties.

Catastrophizing usually comes in a litany of steps that start from a mundane setback all the way to absolute existential hoplessness. For instance:

1. Oh no, I'm going to be late for work.
2. My boss is going to be angry.
3. I'm going to lose my job.
4. I'm not going to be able to get another one.
5. I'm going to be unemployed forever.
6. My family will starve.
7. Oh God, we're all going to die!!!

Each step in the sequence is arguably plausible, but the snowball effect takes it into the realms of absurdity after a while.

by The Logical Fallacy August 19, 2018

Aligherian

An adjective that applies to ironic punishment, often one that fits the crime or foible they are being punished for.

Named after Dante Alighieri, who's epic poem "Inferno" made the punishments of the damned ironic to the sins they were being tortured for.

So the guy who beat dogs in life is being torn apart by hellhounds for eternity? How Aligherian.

by The Logical Fallacy February 19, 2024

Shenmue Gambit

When a certain media property that, while unsuccessful when it first comes out, can manage to become a successful franchise overtime using nostalgia.

"Fortunately, Double Fine have managed to cling to driftwood long enough to wait for the inevitable twenty-year nostalgia wave to come around and can now surf that driftwood all the way to sex island with Psychonauts 2. Yes, they've pulled what's now technically known as the Shenmue gambit."
-- Psychonauts 2 (Zero Punctuation)

by The Logical Fallacy September 15, 2021

Hemingway Defense

Where the stress and work of artistic expression is used to excuse substance abuse, chemical dependencies and other toxic coping-mechanisms.

"I also employed the world-famous Hemingway Defense... which goes something like this: as a writer, I am a very sensitive fellow, but I am also a man, and real men don't give in to their sensitivities. Only sissy-men do that. Therefore I drink. How else can I face the existential horror of it all and continue to work? Besides, come on, I can handle it. A real man always can."
-- Stephen King

by The Logical Fallacy February 17, 2023

Hassle

The animal group name for Karens.

"A hassle of wild Karens watch a 12-year old go rob a 6 year-old, then blame her when she throws him to a certain doom."
-->-- Diamanda Hagan, Zoom Academy for Superheroes review.

by The Logical Fallacy May 16, 2022

Egotheism

When one's description of God (as an entity) follows the exact same political and social opinions of the solitary worshipper in-spite of whatever scripture, dogma or gospel they claim represents God. Not to be confused with God Complex.

"So if Anthony the atheist does not believe that God exists, did he 'reject' her even if she does exist? No. All God would need to do is show up and ask Anthony in person for him to accept. Or perhaps Theresa the theist described God inaccurately. Is Anthony rejecting the real God, or the inaccurate portrayal of God, which doesn't actually exist, even though she does? In all accounts, Anthony is not actually rejecting God, and in all accounts, Theresa would have no reason to feel rejected at all. So why then does the theist typically show the classic signs of rejection and even misuse the word 'rejection' when encountering an atheist? Because 'God' IS Theresa. The believer IS God. Your relationship with God is actually a profound dynamic relationship with the self. With your ego. It is why God knows you so well. It is why his opinions are so often your opinions, and why a different believer of the same god as yours can claim that he agrees with God's opinions, but not yours. It is why God seems to very real to you because he IS real. He IS you."

-- DarkMatter2525 describing Egotheism in "The Real God: An Epiphany"

by The Logical Fallacy April 8, 2019