There is a praxeological observation known as ‘Goodwin’s Law,’ and, as far as my experience allows me to say, it is quite accurate. The fact that I’ve had a chance to witness this law in action over and over again reminds me of how badly I need to spend my time in places other than internet message boards.
At any rate. Mike Goodwin, an early internet user, stated in 1990 that:
“As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.”
I’ve said before that, for every time a pointless political thread starts on an internet message board (that I’m browsing for content on, say, drums or a sports team), I add another book to my “To read” queue. This idea, of course, was inspired by a great quote from Groucho Marx: “I find television very educational. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
So here’s to reading, dialogue, conversation, writing, and ideas . . . and all other activities of the examined life!
p.s. I can’t take credit for the title of this post, either. In fact, there may not be a single original thought in here. Oh well.
