7 Signs It’s Past Time for Hitler Comparisons
Because it’s almost too late.
“As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Hitler approaches 1”; that is, if an online discussion (regardless of topic or scope) goes on long enough, sooner or later someone will compare someone or something to Adolf Hitler or his deeds.” — Godwin’s Law
Attorney Mike Godwin wrote that in 1990 on Usenet.
I remember the first time I encountered a reference to Godwin’s Law. It was many years later, before Twitter and Facebook, when the preferred arena for arguing anonymously with people was still comment-boards and blogs.
By that time, it had become an ingrained tradition to say that once “Godwin’s Law” plays out and a Hitler comparison is made, the thread is finished and whoever made the comparison has lost the debate.
In other words, the first person to call his opponent “Hitler,” loses.
I remember thinking a few things in ominously unfolding succession:
That’s pretty funny.
Yep, seems true enough.
But that was quickly followed by a realization.
Oh my God… what have we done?
