It Ain't funny [Was: Ain't it funny..]

[Marcel]

Am Freitag, 8. Mai 2009 18:12:47 schrieb Dale Maggee:
> Rui Miguel Silva Seabra wrote:
> > On Fri, May 08, 2009 at 03:34:40PM +0200, Marcel wrote:
> >> I'm sorry to contradict you (am I really?), but using Nazi slogans
> >> in such
> >
> > I call for the rule of Godwin's Law!
> >
> > Rui
>
> I had never heard of Godwin's Law until now! :O
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
>
> I was sitting here puzzling over Marcel's comment, which I didn't
> understand:
>
> "using this... deprecated language doesn't make me feel you really know
> what you're referencing there."
>
> This had me confused - I knew exactly what I meant! "Totalitarian". I
> was trying to figure out what he was saying, and/or politely say "I
> don't understand what you mean"...
>
> then I read this:
>
> "I wanted folks who glibly compared someone else to Hitler or to Nazis
> to think a bit harder about the Holocaust"
>
> and I said to myself: "Oh, shit..."
>
> I have been very ignorant, and now realise that I have said something
> very inappropriate. And I humbly and sincerely apologise for that.
>
> I feel pretty bad about this, especially the part where I couldn't
> figure out what Marcel was trying to say. Now I understand. and I feel
> like a complete dick. Sorry.
>
> Generally when I hear the word "nazi" used, it means "totalitarian",
> not "monster" or "mass murderer" - think of the "soup nazi" in
> Seinfeld. That's what I meant. Not the other. *At All*. Sorry.
>
> The wiki page also says:
>
> when an adversary uses an inappropriate Hitler or Nazi comparison, "you
> have only to say 'Godwin's Law' and a trapdoor falls open, plunging
> your rival into a pool of hungry crocodiles."
>
> Oh Noes, not crocodiles! The wiki page fails to mention any possible
> exclusion from this horrible fate for cases of extreme ignorance
> followed by sincere repentance... is there any such exclusion, or are
> the crocs already gnawing at my stupid ass?
>
> Seriously, please accept my apologies for this. I have learned
> something today. Thank you for enlightening me.

Accepted.

--
Marcel