The Logical Fallacy's definitions

Valley of Virility

When something is so straight in its manliness that it becomes incredibly gay in the process, usually displayed in a visual metaphor similar to the Uncanny Valley.

"Remember that 'Valley of Virility' thing I once mentioned ? That's where I feel 'Top Gun' lies. It is so straight that it's looped back around to gay."
-- Rantasmo, "Top Gun Needs More Gay"

by The Logical Fallacy November 4, 2017

Koumpounophilia

An affection and/or love of buttons. Those that have this usually enjoy collecting buttons, using them in crafts and projects and even identify with them in some manner.

More extreme cases lead to a sexual arousal at the sight or mention of them.

"Yeah, uhuh, sure. Hey, where did you get that shirt?"
"The department store across the street. Why?"
"Well, its just... so many buttons... buuuuuuuttooooons! GIVE ME THOSE BUTTONS! I MUST HAVE THEM!!!"
--Example of Koumpounophilia

by The Logical Fallacy December 18, 2015

soft power

The use of slow, pacifistic persuasion to de-escalate a problem, created from a moral righteousness through leadership. Contrast with hard power.

"Andrew Garfield however, offers a 'soft power' version of Spider-Man - he's constantly trying to persuade his enemies to stop their nonsense."
-- The Philosophy of Spider-Man – Wisecrack Edition

by The Logical Fallacy January 7, 2018

Churchlish

Religious dogma used as an excuse to act assholish and mean-spirited to everybody. Portmanteau of "church" and "churlish".

Just because the Bible says that you can buy women does not mean you have the right to pawn your daughter off to a creep with a checkbook. That's just churchlish.

by The Logical Fallacy January 3, 2019

trumpish

Simultaneously churlish and childish.

Now don't be trumpish.

by The Logical Fallacy January 3, 2019

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

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