Godwin's law

Godwin's Law (also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies) is an adage formulated by Mike Godwin in 1990.

Statement of Godwin's Law

As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.

Usage in internet discussions

There is a tradition in Internet discussion forums that once such a comparison is made, the thread in question is finished and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically "lost" whatever debate was in progress.

Godwin's Law thus serves to impose an upper bound on thread length in general.

Netiquette

It is considered poor form to raise arbitrarily such a comparison with the motive of ending the thread. There is a widely recognized codicil that any such ulterior-motive invocation of Godwin's Law will be unsuccessful.

Exceptions

Godwin's Law does not apply to discussions directly addressing genocide, propaganda or other mainstays of the Nazi regime. Instead, it applies to inappropriate, inordinate, or hyperbolic comparisons of other situations to Hitler or Nazis.