Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mike Godwin Interviewed

Posted by samzenpus on from the nationalsozialistische-deutsche-arbeiterpartei dept.

theshowmecanuck writes CBC Radio in Canada has just posted an interview with Mike Godwin, the originator of the famous Godwin's Law. Unbelievably it comes after a week where Canadian politicians started flinging the H word at each other. Part of the interview reads: "I really wanted people not to make silly or glib comparisons that really show no awareness of history... and I think that to that extent Godwin's Law has succeeded."

3 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. OK, but... by Brett+Buck · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In fact, many cases of Hitler references trivialize the almost inconceivable magnitude of the evil of the 3rd reich. But some cases - the Khmer Rouge or ISIS, for example - it really is appropriate. Yet Godwin is used to stifle the discussion. I think in that sense it has been a disservice.

    1. Re:OK, but... by khasim · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No. If X (not Hitler) is doing Y and Y is very bad then you should be able to explain how come Y is very bad WITHOUT BRINGING HITLER INTO THE DISCUSSION.

      Dragging Hitler/Nazis into a discussion is a lazy way to try to claim some moral high ground.

    2. Re:OK, but... by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And Godwin says you are wrong. If it is appropriate to make the comparison, then it is appropriate. He does not believe that a comparison should never be made. Neither do I and never have. Your position is horribly dogmatic and is akin to people who believe goto statements in programming should never be used no matter what. This is in fact complete bunk.

      --
      -- I ignore anonymous replies to my comments and postings.