Nineteen Eighty-four - Page 4

trolls' bane · 11-02-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcuin

The only difference between a Bolshevik and a Nazi is his excuse for murder.

-|-

Edit:
Oh, heavens! Have I just invoked Godwin’s Law here?

Whose law?

*alarmed*

GrayMouser · 11-04-2006, 03:57 PM

Godwin's Law:

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

It basically means that whatever the topic- abortion, evolution, politics, censorship, baseball, whatever- discussion will usually grow heated and someone will compare the other side to the Nazis

It's often extended to the corollary that whoever does so, loses.

Since this discussion is actually about totalitarianism, and Orwell very much had the Nazis in mind (not as much as the Commies, true), it is not applicable to this thread. Post away.

GrayMouser · 11-04-2006, 04:14 PM

Question:

I've got a pretty good background in history and political philosophy covering this era (example- at one time I actually owned the complete works of Orwell, including the 4-volume collected Essays, Journalism and Letters) and I grew up during the Cold War.

Does it make a difference to younger readers? Even for me, 1984 was pretty much a historical work- the Soviet Union under Brezhnev was not the Soviet Union under Stalin.

As for Animal Farm, it is an allegory - can you fully appreciate it without knowing which historical figures Major, Napoleon, Snowball are; what groups Boxer, Benjamin and Moses represent; what the Battle of the Windmill was?

trolls' bane · 11-07-2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Godwin's Law:

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

It basically means that whatever the topic- abortion, evolution, politics, censorship, baseball, whatever- discussion will usually grow heated and someone will compare the other side to the Nazis

It's often extended to the corollary that whoever does so, loses.

Since this discussion is actually about totalitarianism, and Orwell very much had the Nazis in mind (not as much as the Commies, true), it is not applicable to this thread. Post away.

LOL! That is so true. I'm going to use that very law as my weapon on my school's myspace, where almost every discussion I enter into spirals into near digital fist falls.

Gwaimir Windgem · 11-10-2006, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

LOL! That is so true. I'm going to use that very law as my weapon on my school's myspace, where almost every discussion I enter into spirals into near digital fist falls.

*cough cough*

Gee, what's the common denominator in all therse discussions that you enter?

trolls' bane · 11-12-2006, 02:44 AM

*cough*
Err...the same few people that always fight?

*cough* *cough*

11-04-2006, 03:57 PM	#62
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	Godwin's Law: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." It basically means that whatever the topic- abortion, evolution, politics, censorship, baseball, whatever- discussion will usually grow heated and someone will compare the other side to the Nazis It's often extended to the corollary that whoever does so, loses. Since this discussion is actually about totalitarianism, and Orwell very much had the Nazis in mind (not as much as the Commies, true), it is not applicable to this thread. Post away. __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

11-04-2006, 04:14 PM	#63
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	Question: I've got a pretty good background in history and political philosophy covering this era (example- at one time I actually owned the complete works of Orwell, including the 4-volume collected Essays, Journalism and Letters) and I grew up during the Cold War. Does it make a difference to younger readers? Even for me, 1984 was pretty much a historical work- the Soviet Union under Brezhnev was not the Soviet Union under Stalin. As for Animal Farm, it is an allegory - can you fully appreciate it without knowing which historical figures Major, Napoleon, Snowball are; what groups Boxer, Benjamin and Moses represent; what the Battle of the Windmill was? __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

11-12-2006, 02:44 AM	#66
trolls' bane Entmoot Secretary of the Treasury Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Campsite-by-Giraffe Posts: 5,408	cough Err...the same few people that always fight? cough cough __________________ KI6PFA Amateur Radio Operator