The Logical Fallacy's definitions

Valley of Virility

When something is so straight in its manliness that it becomes incredibly gay in the process, usually displayed in a visual metaphor similar to the Uncanny Valley.

"Remember that 'Valley of Virility' thing I once mentioned ? That's where I feel 'Top Gun' lies. It is so straight that it's looped back around to gay."
-- Rantasmo, "Top Gun Needs More Gay"

by The Logical Fallacy November 4, 2017

American Exceptionalism

A patriotism-based political belief that states that the United States of America is unique or exceptional when compared with the historical development of other countries, and is thus considered better than other countries regardless of context.

More extreme cases of this have led to white-washing of historical events, propaganda and violation of international law under the pretense that "it's not a crime when America does it."

America's greatness, America's exceptional greatness, is not based on that fact that we are the most powerful, most prosperous - and most generous - nation on earth. Rather, those things are the result of American Exceptionalism.
-- Newt Gingrich

by The Logical Fallacy September 23, 2016

Schrödinger's Douchebag

A guy who says offensive things and decides whether he was joking based on the reaction of people around him.

Any website that lacks effective moderation and allows some level of anonymity will, to varying degrees, approxomate 4chan, and be overrun with Schrödinger's Douchebags. Now this type of person defends, for instance, rape-jokes by saying "all humor is inherently punching down because there must be a butt to every joke." He hasn't thought about it. he assumes it's true because he figures "(he's) a smart guy, and whatever (he) assumes is probably right", but he's unfazed if you prove otherwise. There's no shortage of dodgy reasons he might be right and you wrong. He'll just pick another one. What matters is the game continues.

-- Innuendo Studios example of Schrödinger's Douchebag, "The Alt-Right Playbook: The Card Says Moops"

by The Logical Fallacy February 3, 2019

Transtextuality

The method by which a text connects itself to another text.

Transtextuality takes on five different forms: Intertext, Metatext, Paratext, Hypertext and Architext.

According to Gérard Genette transtextuality is "all that sets the text in relationship, whether obvious or concealed, with other texts" and it "covers all aspects of a particular text".

by The Logical Fallacy September 2, 2017

Aligherian

An adjective that applies to ironic punishment, often one that fits the crime or foible they are being punished for.

Named after Dante Alighieri, who's epic poem "Inferno" made the punishments of the damned ironic to the sins they were being tortured for.

So the guy who beat dogs in life is being torn apart by hellhounds for eternity? How Aligherian.

by The Logical Fallacy February 19, 2024

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

Shenmue Gambit

When a certain media property that, while unsuccessful when it first comes out, can manage to become a successful franchise overtime using nostalgia.

"Fortunately, Double Fine have managed to cling to driftwood long enough to wait for the inevitable twenty-year nostalgia wave to come around and can now surf that driftwood all the way to sex island with Psychonauts 2. Yes, they've pulled what's now technically known as the Shenmue gambit."
-- Psychonauts 2 (Zero Punctuation)

by The Logical Fallacy September 15, 2021