I never realized there was a term to describe the low-effort phrases that people often use to get other people to shut up.
A thought-terminating cliché (also known as a semantic stop-sign, a thought-stopper, bumper sticker logic, or cliché thinking) is a form of loaded language—often passing as folk wisdom—intended to end an argument and quell cognitive dissonance with a cliché rather than a point.[1][2] Some such clichés are not inherently terminating, and only becomes so when used to intentionally dismiss, dissent, or justify fallacies.[3]
The term was popularized by Robert Jay Lifton in his 1961 book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, who referred to the use of the cliché, along with “loading the language”, as “the language of non-thought”.[4]
You must log in or register to comment.
Let’s not forget the grand daddy of them all: The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Somewhat apropos I recommend watching Adam Curtis’ take on what he calls Oh Dearism:
It’s God’s fault unless the devil did it. Those idiots have an excuse for literally everything.
…And then it got worse.
(said in a thick Russian accent)
Ain’t no fixin stupid.
FAFO.
…win stupid prizes.
Lmao ok boomer
“ok boomer” doesnt fit since it expresses that the boomer is so out of touch with current reality but so confident in their view that its pointless to try to explain something to them.
Why do you support genocide?
Meh
Excellent example.
Personal favorite: “Just shut up, man.”
Proceed, Governor.
In Russian there’s a “Такие дела”, which means something like “Things are like that”
Explains the subsiveness of Russian culture
No it doesn’t. Almost every culture has several similar idioms.
We in Hungary might have taken “Ez ilyen” from you then. Means “this is how it is”, used when pointing out an obvious issue to signal said issue is not going to be fixed any time soon as people have already gotten used to having to work around it.
America following in your footsteps I guess.
It is what it is.
Everywhere you go, there you are.
“Ez ilyen” differs from “it is what it is” though. “Ez ilyen” does not convey a notion that the subject is bad but we let it be, it is more like saying that “I understand you might have expected something else, but this is what you’re getting”. “It is what it is” conveys some empathy. “Ez ilyen” conveys the opposite.
So, more “Suck it up, buttercup”?
Semantic stop-signs discussed on less wrong. Fun post if you can get past Yudkowsky’s self-absorbed writing style.
👍
It is what it is
I hate this one sooo much
Has this one become rampant in the past few years? Everyone says it, I absolutely cannot stand this one for some reason
Trump said it about COVID deaths during an interview in April 2020.
A current favorite here in the US: Make America Great Again.
can’t terminate thought if you didn’t have it
Their slogan should be:
No thought, just parrot what’s taught.
I don’t understand what you mean, but it sounds like you hate 'merica!
like that smoked brisket tho
I’ve come across some scientific research that may give us some hope for them.
“The brain is an evolutionary marvel. […] But what of all the organisms that lack this precious organ?”
There was some conservative thing, I don’t remember who or what said it, but “even when I’m wrong, at least I’m right.” (As in right wing in case it isn’t clear.)
Incel is also another TTC
You’ll change your mind you are older.
Been hearing that one for over 15 years and it hasn’t gotten any less wrong.
The cliche probably seems pretty wrong now, but you’ll change your mind when you’re older
My parents.
I realize now, that if an adult non-ironically says this, then it’s likely they are the ones that will never learn.
Used to get this all the time for over 10 years from a relative only 3 years older than me. We don’t talk anymore.
Sadly this is coming from my grandmother whomst I live with. Luckily we have everything set up so that if we do get into a fight it just means I need to figure out what to get for dinner.
Yeah.
Closely related I feel is the notion that people grow more conservative as they get older. Also heard that one mostly from people barely older than me. While over the past decade I’ve noticed the opposite in myself.
It’s a leftover from ye olden days when upward economic mobility was still a thing, and women and minorities still knew their place. Boomers gonna boomer
I had it told to me by a very conservative civics teacher. Lots and lots of garbage taught in that class.
You only get more conservative if you have a position of privilege to maintain. Was once quite commonly obtained with age.
That shit ain’t happening any more
