The belief efforts to protect people from calamity will only lead to them being more careless, and bringing on more calamity.
This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
This is a fallacy because it (a) assumes people can adjust personal risk to replicate an incomparable situation, and (b) it confusing risk-taking and risky behavior. "Risk-taking" is a neutral term that includes anything that increases risk in some way, such as operating a machine at a higher speed. This usually is done to get some other benefit. "Risky behavior" is foolish, feckless, or sloppy behavior that has no intrinsic utility to the person engaging in it.
An example of the curmudgeon's fallacy is the erroneous claim that safer cars make for careless drivers.
by Abu Yahya September 1, 2008
The idea that, if you mitigate the consequences of a particular type of accident, then that type of accident will necessarily occur much more frequently, more than negating the initial benefit.
The CF assumes that human nature is perverse and seeks to equalize consequences. Hence, improved automotive technologies such as air bags, ABS, space frames, etc. will be offset (or more than offset) by careless driving, leading to increased highway fatalities.
FALSIFICATION: Empirical evidence shows that, while reducing consequences increases risky behavior, overall safety/health outcomes are better. Insurance companies with a stake in reducing claims verify this.
More generally, the CF confuses all forms of risk-taking, such as faster highway speeds, with fecklessness. Increased speed and convenience (for motorists) has utility; and there is no principle in welfare economics that says risk-taking will increase by an amount sufficient to offset the safety measures.
The CF assumes that human nature is perverse and seeks to equalize consequences. Hence, improved automotive technologies such as air bags, ABS, space frames, etc. will be offset (or more than offset) by careless driving, leading to increased highway fatalities.
FALSIFICATION: Empirical evidence shows that, while reducing consequences increases risky behavior, overall safety/health outcomes are better. Insurance companies with a stake in reducing claims verify this.
More generally, the CF confuses all forms of risk-taking, such as faster highway speeds, with fecklessness. Increased speed and convenience (for motorists) has utility; and there is no principle in welfare economics that says risk-taking will increase by an amount sufficient to offset the safety measures.
The massively overrated book *Freakanomics* (Dubner & Leavitt) includes many examples of the curmudgeon's fallacy.
by Abu Yahya August 22, 2008
A person, usually of an older generation, who complains on Facebook and through comments on blogs, about the youth of today being lazy and reliant on technology. This person may also make comments about past difficulties and how "easy" younger people have it.
In other words, someone who complains about youth and technology while using the same technology to beleaguer their intended target.
In other words, someone who complains about youth and technology while using the same technology to beleaguer their intended target.
"My boss routinely acts as a social curmudgeon on blogs and Facebook, by posting comments about how lazy my generation is and how we 'probably don't even know how to use a pen'"
by Taitter March 10, 2012
Used to describe a unworthy, unclean, disgustingly irritating and socially distant person. Usually riff raff of society....
I thought she was my kind of girl until i met her old boyfriend! Wow what a Dirty Curmudgeon he was!
by SOB5150 August 29, 2016
by mitalee March 13, 2005
In some circles, it refers to the male reproductive organ (the penis) and the sorrounding pubic hair
by MDG33k January 26, 2008
An often disagreeable young man with a serious disposition. Does not tell nor receive jokes well. However, he is kind and generally likeable. One might say his name is Andrew
Andrew just complained about washing all of Mason's dishes again. He did a great job cleaning and putting them away yet still had something to say about it. What a lovable curmudgeon.
by PapaCrush June 13, 2017