Bill Maher has "New Rules"; the internet has "New Laws"

[tzikeh]

Most people who are Aware of All Internet Traditions (original post here, original comment here) know about Godwin's Law, created by Mike Godwin in 1990:

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." (Over time, this has devolved into, "If you bring up Hitler or Nazis in your online argument, you lose.")

Then, we have Snacky's Law: (original post here):

"Whenever two (or more) groups of people are arguing, anywhere on the web (usenet, mailing lists, message boards, blogs, etc.), inevitably, someone on one side of the argument (regardless of age or gender) will compare the group on the other side to "those bitchy girls who made everyone's life hell in high school."

I propose that we enact cereta's Gay Porn Standard, and call it Cereta's Law:

"Whenever you start reading a rant/comment/essay/whatever, ask yourself, 'Self, if you read this, will your personal, intellectual, or moral development be any greater than if you spent the same amount of time reading about Jack and Ianto* having sex?' If the answer is 'no,' close the tab." (*insert couple of your choice)

Post it, spread it, share it with the world. Do your part to bring down the internet's collective blood pressure, and to add one more custom to All Internet Traditions.

Comments

[nestra.livejournal.com]

There's also Vee's Law, which is something along the lines of "In an unmoderated posting environment, you are only as oppressed as you choose to be." Courtesy of vee_fic.

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

I approve of this. Also, of your couple of choice example.

[copracat]

Practical and fun!