Friday, July 3, 2015

Davidson's Law

Have you ever heard of Godwin's Law?  If not, here's a good definition - "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches.  That is, if an online discussion (regardless of topic or scope) goes on long enough, sooner or later someone will compare someone or something to Hitler or Nazism."  My guess is that he came up with the law because he was tired of people pointing out his political opinions were that of the Nazis.  Whatever the case, there is some merit to it.
Being someone who lives his life based on principles, I value rule of thumb ideas like Godwin's.  Stereotypes exist for a reason.  If you are willing to accept this truth, life gets much easier.  Don't buy Ferraris from a guy named GTA on Craig's List, beware of turning your back on politicians, and never trust a fart.  I like these things so much, I've come up with a list of my own.  Someday, I'll have to post them all.  But today, I'm discussing the newest.  Here it is - Davidson's Law(of aviation).
Davidson's Law*** is very simple.  "As an online discussion about aviation grows longer, the probability someone will suggest it serves as a reason to wear a helmet increases."  It is assumed that the majority of people will understand the person who makes the suggestion is an idiot.  This is why that is not included in the law.
There you go.  File that away in your memory banks.  If you stick around aviation more than a day, it will come in handy.
 
***This law does not imply or infer there is never a good time to wear a helmet.  It merely points out that if you are wearing one, thinking of wearing one, or see everything as a good reason to wear one, you're likely a safety Nazi.

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