We need a word that describes “questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes/no asked with the explicit intent to make a sound bite for stupid people.” Germans do this kind of thing all the time. Some compound word like “stupid dummy-faced shitheel question.” Studu-fashtion.
In this case though, isn’t “no” honest, fully correct, and merely politically unpopular? It’s like if they asked a Republican about gay marriage and he said “no”.
It’s called a false dichotomy, actually. Basically pretending there are only two sides to an argument (capitalism good, capitalism bad) when there is more nuance. Capitalism good, but… capitalism bad, but… this isn’t capitalism… etc.
ratfuck to describe using proceduralism to try to manipulate democracy
Haha, I never thought to define that term, it just comes to me instinctively whenever Democrats or Republicans are mentioned (particularly this second Trump administration): Democrats ratfucked their constituents in 2024, Republicans ratfucked the country in 2025.
We need a word that describes “questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes/no asked with the explicit intent to make a sound bite for stupid people.” Germans do this kind of thing all the time. Some compound word like “stupid dummy-faced shitheel question.” Studu-fashtion.
In this case though, isn’t “no” honest, fully correct, and merely politically unpopular? It’s like if they asked a Republican about gay marriage and he said “no”.
It’s called a false dichotomy, actually. Basically pretending there are only two sides to an argument (capitalism good, capitalism bad) when there is more nuance. Capitalism good, but… capitalism bad, but… this isn’t capitalism… etc.
It’s called a loaded question, but that doesn’t really have the weight of how destructive this has been to society
I’m enjoying how easy it is to use ratfuck to describe using proceduralism to try to manipulate democracy, maybe something along those lines?
Haha, I never thought to define that term, it just comes to me instinctively whenever Democrats or Republicans are mentioned (particularly this second Trump administration): Democrats ratfucked their constituents in 2024, Republicans ratfucked the country in 2025.
Right? It just doesn’t even require explanation. People know what you’re talking about immediately
It’s a concept we all know missing a word, and people just get it instantly. I’ve had to repeat it slowly, but everyone gets it