The Logical Fallacy's definitions

Tropic of Fuckabout

The border that distinguishes whether or not the high difficulty of a video game makes the game "challenging but rewarding" or "frustrating and unrewarding."

"Finally, after much frustration and about 900 attempts, I've gotten the core on the ropes and I'm moments from landing the final blow, whereupon I glitch through the floor and fall to my death. No. That's too much. That's gone right over the Tropic of Fuckabout on a jet-ski full of dicks. I'm done. Fuck The Surge, fuck Deck13, fuck anyone who likes it. Blimey, that's filled my schedule out for the week."
-- Zero Punctuation

by The Logical Fallacy June 7, 2017

sewer socialism

Originally a pejorative term for the the Socialist Party of America, sewer socialism is a form of socialism that focuses on improving quality of life from the ground up instead of reform through revolution. Examples include sanitation systems, city-owned water and power, improved quality of education and so on. Also known as Constructive Socialism, and is considered a pregenitor to Democratic Socialism.

"We wanted our workers to have pure air, we wanted them to have sunshine, we wanted planned homes, we wanted living wages; we wanted recreation for young and old; we wanted vocational education; we wanted a chance for every human being to be strong and live a life of happiness.

And, we wanted everything that was necessary to give them that: playgrounds, parks, lakes, beaches, clean creeks and rivers, swimming and wading pools, social centers, reading rooms, clean fun, music dance song and joy for all."
-- Emil Seidel, Milwaukee's first socialist mayor, describing his sewer socialism platform

by The Logical Fallacy August 7, 2023

Futurism over Function

When certain features or basic functions present on a new product are changed for the sake of "innovation" with no consideration for practicality.

"It just feels like the thought process was 'well, let's change these designs, because that's what innovators do. And also it will get attention,' without actually improving on the old designs, or thinking about actual problems with the old designs that could be solved. See, what's happening here is not uncommon for Tesla and some other car companies, but specifically any of Elon's companies. I don't know if there's a name for it yet, so I'm just gonna call it Futurism over Function."
--> Cybertruck? More Like Cyber-Sucks! – SOME MORE NEWS

by The Logical Fallacy October 13, 2024

Day of 1000 Cuts

A type of bad day that consists primarily of mishaps and general problems that one knowingly has no right to openly complain about, either being too minor and inconsequential to be worth getting upset over or are because of that person's own poor decisions, until the person in question's temper boils over.

I overslept, I forgot to pack a lunch,I stub my toe on the way out, I have to drive for an hour while keeping a fly trapped with me in the car out of my face, I remember that I have to get an oil change, all of my ceramic pots exploded in the kiln because of air-bubbles in them, I leave my homework in my car and only remember until after I make it to class and then I have to sit in traffic in an hour, a firetruck overseeing the wreck taking up three lanes on the freeway. "Death by 1000 Cuts"? Well mine was a Day of 1000 Cuts.

by The Logical Fallacy October 4, 2018

Playing Hot Potato with a Pineapple

Desperately trying to ditch an object that harms its holder.

In the Ready Player One movie, the High Five were passing along Chucky the Living doll in hopes of not getting stabbed. They were Playing Hot Potato with a Pineapple. ...get it? Li-like a grenade?

by The Logical Fallacy May 29, 2018

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