[DesertRhino]

Godwins “law” is a meaningless silliness, that is often the last refuge of a smart-ass. Why is it weird that one of the worst insanities within living memory might sometimes be referenced when people discuss politics or pphilosophy? I could easily make my own “law”, whereby any discussion about the roots of nazism, or even the most scholarly legitimate comparisons will soon invoke a shriek “Godwins Law”.

This law is not an axiom of logic, it is just someones crotchety attempt to prevent anything, from ever, for any reason being contrasted with the nazis. (one of the most nightmarish developments of the last century) These comparisons are very often quite legitimate.

I often think if i suggested we follow nordic pagan religion, blame the Jews for everything and ship them by trains to special camps, and someone compared me to a nazi, that someone could be counted on to shriek that Godwins Law was invoked.

[x]

When somebody starts out comparing those he disagrees with or disapproves of to Hitler or the Nazis, discussion isn't likely to improve. Nor is it likely to be a very "scholarly" or "legitimate" comparison. It's more likely to be an ideological hit and run, like Bryan's.

It's a generational thing, for heaven's sake. Very few people nowadays -- whatever their politics or ideology or nationality or sexual orientation -- are going to advocate abolishing the rule of law, invading neighboring countries, or gassing ethnic minorities.

70 years ago a lot of people went along with such ideas, and even enthusiastically supported them. What you or I or our friends and neighbors or anyone else would have done if we'd been alive then isn't so easy to determine.

It's not "me and my ideological tribe against Hitler and the other guys for him." It's more "pretty much our whole generation against Hitler because we know from history where that stuff can lead."