Freeh Report

[Benny B]

Umm...

and

Just might be applicable under Godwin's Law...

Neither of those were comparisons to Hitler.  One was parody, the other was a side remark.

[The Process]

Neither of those were comparisons to Hitler.  One was parody, the other was a side remark.

Per the link in my post:

Godwin's law is often cited in online discussions as a deterrent against the use of arguments in the widespread Reductio ad Hitlerum form.[4] The rule does not make any statement about whether any particular reference or comparison to Adolf Hitler or the Nazis might be appropriate, but only asserts that the likelihood of such a reference or comparison arising increases as the discussion progresses, irrespective of whether it's appropriate or not. Precisely because such a comparison or reference may sometimes be appropriate, Godwin has argued that overuse of Nazi and Hitler comparisons should be avoided, because it robs the valid comparisons of their impact.[5]

And further:

Godwin's law applies especially to inappropriate, inordinate, or hyperbolic comparisons of other situations (or one's opponent) with Nazis. The law and its corollaries would not apply to discussions covering known mainstays of Nazi Germany such as genocide, eugenics or racial superiority, nor, more debatably, to a discussion of other totalitarian regimes or ideologies, since a Nazi comparison in those circumstances may be appropriate, in effect committing the fallacist's fallacy. Whether it applies to humorous use or references to oneself is open to interpretation, since this would not be a fallacious attack against a debate opponent.

So yeah... my parody/humorous use could be construed as implementing Godwin's law.

[Benny B]

OK, you win... yay Hitler, I guess.

[mu03eng]

So wait, there is a law saying that the longer a conversation on the internet goes the more likely some idiot is going to bring Hitler into it, even without having a context to do so????  Talk about setting the bar low Mr Godwin.  How is this a law, isn't that is what the internet is?  At least Murphy had an insightful observation, Godwin just took fact and presented it as some keen observation.

Though I will say, in the Buzz to SMU thread I don't remember a single Hitler reference but I could be wrong.

[🏀]

So wait, there is a law saying that the longer a conversation on the internet goes the more likely some idiot is going to bring Hitler into it, even without having a context to do so????  Talk about setting the bar low Mr Godwin.  How is this a law, isn't that is what the internet is?  At least Murphy had an insightful observation, Godwin just took fact and presented it as some keen observation.

Though I will say, in the Buzz to SMU thread I don't remember a single Hitler reference but I could be wrong.

If there wasn't, it needs to be resurrected.

[🏀]

Yesssssssss....

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57477382/ncaa-source-unprecedented-penalties-against-penn-state?tag=socsh

[GGGG]

Rumors are no death penalty, but that the death penalty might be preferable.  Huge scholarship losses IMO.

[The Process]

Rumors are no death penalty, but that the death penalty might be preferable.  Huge scholarship losses IMO.

So what else are you hearing other than no death penalty?  Other than huge scholarship losses, what else would have made the death penalty preferable?

If the penalties do prove to be that heavy, would Penn St. consider doing what SMU did the year after their death penalty and just shutter their football program for a year or more?

[nyg]

Some talking sports heads mentioning:

Loss of at least 10 schollies
Loss of televised games for ? years
Five year bowl ban

Probably some smoke to this fire of rumor.....

[🏀]

Rumors are no death penalty, but that the death penalty might be preferable.  Huge scholarship losses IMO.

The NCAA might be something great here.

Instead of just shutting the program down that means so much to these ignorant fools in Happy Valley, they'll cripple that team into a new Indiana or Kent State. Make these clowns pay to watch Northwestern travel to Penn State and destroy the team by 50+.

The potential impairing of Penn State's level of competition almost makes me want to see these debacles on TV every Saturday.

[Benny B]

The NCAA might be something great here.

Instead of just shutting the program down that means so much to these ignorant fools in Happy Valley, they'll cripple that team into a new Indiana or Kent State. Make these clowns pay to watch Northwestern travel to Penn State and destroy the team by 50+.

The potential impairing of Penn State's level of competition almost makes me want to see these debacles on TV every Saturday.

Good point... death let's them off the hook.  Keep them just alive enough to feel the pain.

[MUBurrow]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/19632027

This has to be a joke... you mean the penalty is going to be to further line the NCAA's pockets?

[chapman]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/19632027

This has to be a joke... you mean the penalty is going to be to further line the NCAA's pockets?

The record fine will go toward an endowment for children's causes, sources said.

[MUBurrow]

and that kids, is why you don't skim in incredulity

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Proving that there is no such thing as too much cynicism, I am literally amazed at how many Penn State (or otherwise) fans are outraged at even the thought of sanctions in the comments sections of these kinds of articles.

[MUfan12]

-$60 million fine
-4 year bowl ban
-13 years of wins vacated
-Loss of 10 scholarships per year for 4 years.

They probably would have preferred the death penalty. Wow.

[nyg]

-$60 million fine
-4 year bowl ban
-13 years of wins vacated
-Loss of 10 scholarships per year for 4 years.

They probably would have preferred the death penalty. Wow.

AND, all players can leave if they want with no transfer penalty.  AND, the future recruiting aspects will kill them.  The 13 years of wins vacated was over the top.  Wow is right.

[MUfan12]

AND, all players can leave if they want with no transfer penalty.  AND, the future recruiting aspects will kill them.  The 13 years of wins vacated was over the top.  Wow is right.

Glad they are letting players leave. The vacated wins was a shot at Paterno's grave, no doubt about it.

[chapman]

Proving that there is no such thing as too much cynicism, I am literally amazed at how many Penn State (or otherwise) fans are outraged at even the thought of sanctions in the comments sections of these kinds of articles.

It's in their best interest to not continue to fight or complain about this.  It only fuels the outrage and leads to more desire for penalties.  Iowa's president reminded the media yesterday that the Big Ten has the authority to levy its own punishments.  While it doesn't seem probable to happen, getting kicked out of the conference would be more crippling than anything the NCAA just did.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

It's in their best interest to not continue to fight or complain about this.  It only fuels the outrage and leads to more desire for penalties.  Iowa's president reminded the media yesterday that the Big Ten has the authority to levy its own punishments.  While it doesn't seem probable to happen, getting kicked out of the conference would be more crippling than anything the NCAA just did.

I agree. If I had to put a percentage on it, for the CBS sports stories at least, I'd say it's between 5%-15% of the posts are in defense of Penn State. Really stunning to see.

[MerrittsMustache]

Glad they are letting players leave. The vacated wins was a shot at Paterno's grave, no doubt about it.

The NCAA definitely does not want the all-time wins leader of their highest profile sport to be a man who looked the other way to child molestation.

I actually think the NCAA got this one right, although I wouldn't have minded if the fine was bigger. The people who don't think this punishment was harsh enough don't really understand the ramifications of losing 40% of your scholarships over a 4-year window. 

[Hards Alumni]

So regarding the vacated wins... if you take away all the wins since '98, do they come off of Paterno's all time record as well?

[MU B2002]

So regarding the vacated wins... if you take away all the wins since '98, do they come off of Paterno's all time record as well?

I would say yes, just like Bobby Bowden. 

I believe Eddie Robinson is once again the all-time leader.

[MerrittsMustache]

So regarding the vacated wins... if you take away all the wins since '98, do they come off of Paterno's all time record as well?

Yes. Paterno loses approx 110 wins.

[Benny B]

Glad they are letting players leave. The vacated wins was a shot at Paterno's grave, no doubt about it.

You can't try a dead man, but you can take away his legacy. 

In other words, if Paterno was still alive today and could have stood trial for his role in the conspiracy, I firmly believe the NCAA would not have vacated the wins.


Frankly, I have this sneaking suspicion that Paterno's death was effectively a suicide; not necessarily the Kervorkian "self-assisted" method, but the guy was old enough to and had enough heart problems over the years that he was probably on some life-sustaining meds, especially after his cancer treatment... maybe JoePa knew he was guilty & thought death was the only way to preserve his legacy.  (Or, perhaps, Junior thought it was the only way to preserve his and started thinking about the youth in Asia.)