The Logical Fallacy's definitions

sewer socialism

Originally a pejorative term for the the Socialist Party of America, sewer socialism is a form of socialism that focuses on improving quality of life from the ground up instead of reform through revolution. Examples include sanitation systems, city-owned water and power, improved quality of education and so on. Also known as Constructive Socialism, and is considered a pregenitor to Democratic Socialism.

"We wanted our workers to have pure air, we wanted them to have sunshine, we wanted planned homes, we wanted living wages; we wanted recreation for young and old; we wanted vocational education; we wanted a chance for every human being to be strong and live a life of happiness.

And, we wanted everything that was necessary to give them that: playgrounds, parks, lakes, beaches, clean creeks and rivers, swimming and wading pools, social centers, reading rooms, clean fun, music dance song and joy for all."
-- Emil Seidel, Milwaukee's first socialist mayor, describing his sewer socialism platform

by The Logical Fallacy August 7, 2023

Regressive Left

Originally coined by conservatives hoping to delegitimize leftist opinions, the regressive left is composed of the more negative aspects of far left political opinions, specifically in such a manner that frowns upon critical thinking in favor of dogmatic thinking. Train of thought most often associated with Social Justice Warriors. Opposite on the political spectrum from the Regressive Right.

Such examples include sexism against men by virtue of their gender, racism against white people by virtue of their skin color, granting power to minority candidates by virtue of their minority status, placing minority citizenship above majority citizenship as opposed to wanted them to be equal, Islamic apologetics, using privilege as a detriment of worth regardless of context, etc.

Some on the Regressive Left believe that black people are entitled to reparations from white people, regardless of personal history for either, because one person's ancestors wronged another person's ancestors.

by The Logical Fallacy September 19, 2016

Foppington's Law

No matter how toxic or incorrect it might be, a specific opinion will quickly adopt pseudoscientific and metaphysical evidence to try and legitimize it, such as phrenology and personal belief.

Once bigotry or self-loathing permeate a given community, it is only a matter of time before deep metaphysical significance is assigned to the shape of human skulls.
-- ContraPoints definition of Foppington's Law

by The Logical Fallacy August 19, 2018

The Three Gordon Rules

Rules used to create an immersive first-person video game.

1) make the protagonist silent
2) keep the cutscenes in first person

3) make sure the levels and maps flow seamlessly with one another.

"Valve's games pulled their players into their stories and worlds in amazing ways using a wide range of techniques, most of which we've boiled down into what we call The Three Gordon Rules!"
-- Hunt Down The Freeman - Just Bad Games

by The Logical Fallacy February 18, 2023

Regressive Right

Regressive Right is is composed of the more negative aspects of far right political opinions, specifically in such a manner that frowns upon critical thinking in favor of dogmatic thinking. Train of thought most often associated with Neocons. Opposite on the political spectrum from the Regressive Left.

Such examples include sexism against women by virtue of their gender, denouncement of racism while simultaneously denouncing people of color by virtue of their skin color, denouncement of any economic philosophy alien to Capitalism, Christian apologetics, Islamophobia, American Exceptionalism, etc.

Some on the Regressive Right completely ignore the entire Bill of Rights except for the 2nd amendment, disregarding the benefits of secularism under the pretense that America is a Christian nation.

by The Logical Fallacy September 19, 2016

Rotten Tomatoes Dilemma

When you aren't sure if you should listen to the criticisms and opinions of the professional few (critics, analysts and your teachers) or the unprofessional many (fans, peers and the general public).

The ole' Rotten Tomatoes Dilemma: should I listen to the critics who know what they're talking about and have learned advice, or the crowd of people that like what I've made warts and all?

by The Logical Fallacy July 1, 2022

closed systems of thought

A way of thinking that begins with the conclusion and spends the rest of its time trying to find ways to justify the conclusion, rather than the other-way around.

During an interview with the Monty Python troupe in 1979, they professed that "Life of Brian" was a condemnation of closed systems of thought. Example: after Brian escapes from the Romans, he is followed by a group of people who mistakenly believe he is the Messiah based on the fact that he does not finish his statement and therefore is "mysterious" to them. When he tells them he is not the messiah, they claim that only the true messiah would deny this. That is where dogma comes in. In the early stages of their new religion, Brian's unlikely followers built their faith out fo whole-cloth. They recover a gourd that is briefly owned by Brian, proclaim that it is a holy artifact and begin to assign greater meaning and significance to it. Upon finding his shoe, a schism emerges among his new followers. They are instantly dedicated to the emerging dogma to the religion of Brian. They are so eager to believe in Brian as the messiah that they immediately begin fashioning the tenants of their faith; the dogma of their religion.

-- Dogma & Theology - Life of Brian | Renegade Cut

by The Logical Fallacy January 12, 2019