261: Regarding Mussolini

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Revision as of 03:59, 11 October 2015 by 108.162.215.154 (talk) (Explanation)
Jump to: navigation, search
Regarding Mussolini
Constantly stopping these briefings halfway through is becoming a pain.
Title text: Constantly stopping these briefings halfway through is becoming a pain.

Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: How is Godwin's law being "enforced," and how does it "not apply"? It's valid according to the definition given below
If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.
Godwin's Law states that all debates on the Internet, given enough time, will devolve into ad hominem attacks in the form of comparisons of one's opponents to Hitler or the Nazis. A common expansion on this law dictates that, when such a comparison is brought up, the debate immediately ends and the person who made the reference is declared the loser. This is meant to dissuade ad hominem (or in this case "Ad hitlerum") attacks on other people/subjects where their views are unreasonably compared to those held by the Nazis.

The scene in the comic shows generals of the British and Commonwealth forces discussing about Benito Mussolini's invasion of Egypt. Mussolini and Hitler were each commanders of Axis powers during World War II, so comparisons between them are almost certain to arise.

As the title text suggests, it would have been detrimental to the war effort if the expanded version of Godwin's Law had been enforced by actually ending meetings to plan war strategy whenever Hitler was appropriately mentioned.

The joke is that in this situation, because the debate is taking place in World War Two, Hitler is relavent to the discussion and therefore comparisons made to Hitler are actually valid, and doing so is not an ad hominem attack.

Transcript

[Three people are standing around a map. One of them is pushing something with a stick.]
[A messenger arrives.]
Messenger: General, Italian forces have entered Egypt.
General: As I expected. This is a foolish move by Mussolini, but like Hitler he will no doubt force his commanders to—
Messenger: Hey. Godwin's Law.
General: Dammit.
General: You know, this may become a problem.


comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

Hitler? I 'ardly KNOW 'er! ...Sorry. ‎162.158.72.191 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~) Hey! Godwin's Law.

Note: in 2017, Mike Godwin said it's not wrong to compare Trumpism to Nazism. -- 162.158.159.132 10:42, 15 May 2023 (UTC)