Do you believe in this maxim for debate, including primary debates?

[JVS]

There is an old maxim out in Usenet political forums ( I believe) that states the following: The first person to bring up Hitler and/or the Nazis in a debate automatically concedes defeat on the issue by doing so.

I think the only exception to this is when discussing Hitler/Nazis as the subject manner at hand. Why this maxim exists? I think it is a way delivering a negative social sanction for taking things to the level of extremely inflammatory, a safety brake if you will.

So I put it to you, people of the forum, do you agree with this maxim?

[poskonig]

1. Godwin's law is universal.

If you bring up Nazis during a flamefest, one loses by default.

[JVS]

3. I agree

It is really a cheap attempt to cast your opponent as the ultimate evil.

[morgan2]

2. its important to point out

when someone is using some of the nazi's tactics. Its like saying we can't use the word Orwellian because its too over the top, but the fact is people do use these tactics and should be called out on it.

[JVS]

4. I believe that it is better to just expose the tactics for what they are.

Dropping the Nazi-bomb or whatever is just an elaborate method of namecalling.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. So if I compare 9/11 to the Reichstag fire, I've lost my argument?

[JVS]

7. Probably

There are two possibilities here.

A. you are in a discussion with people who really dislike Bush and no-body objects. Then there is no debate. And there is no winning a contest that doesn't exist.

B. there is someone who opposes your view. Then your comparison diminishes your credibility and you become tinfoil hat material. Thus you have failed to win the argument.

[Leilani]

6. I think an exception could be

a Jewish person using Hitler/ Nazis/ holocaust, is not a loser, because of collective guilt many Christians feel.

[DFLer4edu]

8. I would compare Bush to Hitler

but only among people who already share the same general sentiment. You can't win a debate on the Hitler comparison, because that immediatly becomes the issue, and oh what were they talking about I forget because the one guy compared the other guy to Hitler. You catch my drift.

[JVS]

9. kick for day crowd

[ldoolin]

10. Nope

Godwin's Law was invented by Usenet snobs of the old school and "jargon file" types, most of whom tend to be either political conservatives, or worse, libertarians.

When somebody, such as George Bush and his supporters, promotes policies resembling those of Hitler, they need to be called on it. Godwin's Law is intended to make this impossible by making the person who correctly calls fascists on their fascism into a joke to be laughed at.

[G_j]

12. it limits debate

being barred from talking about one of the most signifigant events in human history? Why not bar Vietnam from discussions of the Iraq war, or the the genocide of the American Indians from American history? These are the events we hope to not repeat, to learn from.

[gottaB]

11. godwin's law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwins_law

I don't think it's a concession of defeat. Mootness perhaps.