The Logical Fallacy's definitions

Asimov Cascade

A type of technological singularity where a person creates a replica of themself smart enough to become self-aware and able to create a replica of itself, but is unaware that they themselves are replicas. Those replicas themselves become self-aware and able to create a replica of itself, but is unaware that they themselves are replicas. Continue this trend to the point where who was the original creator becomes lost in the sheer number of replicas

Term coined in the Rick and Morty episode "Mortyplicity".

"When squids started killing decoys, decoys started checkin their decoys and learning that they're making decoys. That's making them seek out and run into other decoys. Making them realize they're decoys, making them start to kill other decoys."
-- Rick Sanchez describing the Asimov Cascade.

by The Logical Fallacy July 12, 2021

10 Rules Of Asshole Decorum

A set of guidelines that applies to those who which to be found within the Goldilocks Zone of Acceptable Asshold'em.

1. Consider whether or not your assholish response is inflicted on someone that deserves it.
2. Treat customer service people well, but not TOO well.
3. Do not be an asshole to your significant other.
4. Be clear to people that you are to spend a prolonged amount of time with that you are an asshole.
5. If around men, pretend that your asshole comment is just a joke. If around women, reserve all assholish behaviors to an absent mutual acquaintance.
6. When applying an assholish generalization of a specific group (see rule #5 for an example), be sure to create plausible deniability by saying “not all” followed by the targets of ridicule.
7. Select certain opinions of your opponent as amusing, but not worthy of an actual response.
8. Be interchangeably and inconsistently nice to people you are often an asshole too.
9. Don’t be an asshole to someone you see as beneath you in the social hierarchy, such as the homeless, children or developmentally challenged.
10. Do not be afraid to break rules #1-9 every now and again.

"It's great to be an asshole, but you don’t want to be a total asshole. There's a balance that must be struck. Assholes who are total assholes suffer too much backlash for their nature and are generally considered insufferable by all. Thus, you must learn to follow proper asshole decorum and fall under the Goldilocks Zone of Acceptable Asshold'em. You have accomplished this when people say things about you like 'he's funny, but he's an asshole', or 'I like Dave, but he's kind of an asshole.' That's the Goldilocks zone. You want people to compliment you, or express fondness for you, but then immediately feel the need to point out that you’re an asshole. So here are 10 rules to be a proper asshole with impeccable asshole decorum."
-- TJ "The Amazing Atheist" Kirk, "10 Rules Of Asshole Decorum"

by The Logical Fallacy February 27, 2019

Anti-Art

Art created to challenge the very definition of art and criticize the field as a whole, ironically becoming a part of the artistic establishment and changing the field.

Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" changed the world of art forever and became a staple of Anti-Art, having taken an old urinal, wrote his name on it and submitted it as an art piece. This led to debates so heated that if it wasn't for "Fountain" and its nuanced use of found objects, modern art would be nothing like it was today.

by The Logical Fallacy May 12, 2017

Panopticon Effect

Habits and behavior reflexively caused by the belief that one is being observed or when their actions will become known to another person.

If a stranger leaves a credit card in the room with you, you COULD write down all of its numbers and buy something with it, but you won't. Maybe because someone who would take offense to it is in the same room. Or there is a security camera in the room and someone on the other side will see it. Or the person who owns the card will notice less money in their account and find the address the package was sent to. You probably don't even know the specific reason beyond a strange tingling in the back of your neck warning you of the dangers of doing it. No matter the specific reason, they all fall under the Panopticon Effect.

by The Logical Fallacy October 3, 2022

trumpish

Simultaneously churlish and childish.

Now don't be trumpish.

by The Logical Fallacy January 3, 2019

closed systems of thought

A way of thinking that begins with the conclusion and spends the rest of its time trying to find ways to justify the conclusion, rather than the other-way around.

During an interview with the Monty Python troupe in 1979, they professed that "Life of Brian" was a condemnation of closed systems of thought. Example: after Brian escapes from the Romans, he is followed by a group of people who mistakenly believe he is the Messiah based on the fact that he does not finish his statement and therefore is "mysterious" to them. When he tells them he is not the messiah, they claim that only the true messiah would deny this. That is where dogma comes in. In the early stages of their new religion, Brian's unlikely followers built their faith out fo whole-cloth. They recover a gourd that is briefly owned by Brian, proclaim that it is a holy artifact and begin to assign greater meaning and significance to it. Upon finding his shoe, a schism emerges among his new followers. They are instantly dedicated to the emerging dogma to the religion of Brian. They are so eager to believe in Brian as the messiah that they immediately begin fashioning the tenants of their faith; the dogma of their religion.

-- Dogma & Theology - Life of Brian | Renegade Cut

by The Logical Fallacy January 12, 2019

Rotten Tomatoes Dilemma

When you aren't sure if you should listen to the criticisms and opinions of the professional few (critics, analysts and your teachers) or the unprofessional many (fans, peers and the general public).

The ole' Rotten Tomatoes Dilemma: should I listen to the critics who know what they're talking about and have learned advice, or the crowd of people that like what I've made warts and all?

by The Logical Fallacy July 1, 2022