Jump the...?

[Vitriolis]

Hello all. I usually just lurk, but I thought I'd decloak to ask a question. If this has been discussed before, my apologies, I did a search but found nothing.

At work last week, a story came on the radio about a 14 year old JW girl who was refususing a blood transfusion. I went off on a rant about it, which, to my surprise got one of my co-workers talking. Everything was going fine, we were having an good discussion about organized religion, when out of nowhere he starts talking about Atlantis and how The Planet of the Apes is possible... that avanced, technological civilizations could have risen and fallen on Earth. Jeezus! :(

My question is, for my own amusement, is there a skeptical equivalent to the term "Jump the Shark" , the point where a rational discussion takes a nose dive into woowoo. If there isn't, then there really should be.

Again if this has been discussed before my apologies.

Vit

[KelvinG]

I don't think there is, but dammit, there should be.

[Jeff Corey]

The inductive pratfall.

[Mercutio]

Would you be opposed to "the Vitriolis point"? Cuz it really deserves its own word, and I do not know of one...

[Vikram]

Originally posted by Mercutio
Would you be opposed to "the Vitriolis point"? Cuz it really deserves its own word, and I do not know of one...
I think "the Vitriolis point" sounds nice.

At the JREF, the Vitriolis point often coincides eerily with the entry of Interesting Ian into a serious discussion.

[Vitriolis]

Thanks for the responses. That's 4 more than I expected.:)

The Inductive Pratfall....I like that, but I have to admit 'The Vitriolis Point' appeals to my Ego.

"We have reached The Vitriolis Point"....no one will know what the hell I'm talking about, but they never do anyway. ;)

[Dragon]

Originally posted by Vitriolis
Thanks for the responses. That's 4 more than I expected.:)

The Inductive Pratfall....I like that, but I have to admit 'The Vitriolis Point' appeals to my Ego.

"We have reached The Vitriolis Point"....no one will know what the hell I'm talking about, but they never do anyway. ;) The catch is, just like invoking Godwin's Law, as soon as you say "We have reached The Vitriolis Point" then you automatically lose the debate.

[diabolical laugh] Bwaahh Ha Ha Ha Ha[/diabolical laugh]

[TheBoyPaj]

But the Vitriolis Point doesn't always come up in debates. It comes out of the blue, when you're least expecting it. You know the sort of thing:

you: Do you fancy a cup of tea?
them: Only if it has been energized with Quingo rays.
you: Get out of my sight.

[Vikram]

Originally posted by TheBoyPaj
you: Do you fancy a cup of tea?
them: Only if it has been energized with Quingo rays.
you: Get out of my sight.
This is so reminiscent of a conversation I had with a friend during a recent trip.

Me: I'm thirsty. Could you pass me some water?
Friend: Sure. I brought it along in my transparent green flask to ensure that its natural vitamins are replenished by chromotherapy.
Me: (Drinks water anyway because of immense thirst)

[Dr Adequate]

How about "jumping the yeti"?

[Bronze Dog]

How about "Intellectual gutterball?"

Edit: Brain went in the gutter with some naughty ideas.

[apoger]

Irreducibly Immaterial

[gnome]

I've always wanted to apply the Spaceballs term "He's gone plaid!" to something... maybe this will work?

[chance]

Tangential Topic Deviation (TTD) ?

[orphia nay]

Detour Into La-la Land... DILL?

[fishbob]

Originally posted by TheBoyPaj
But the Vitriolis Point doesn't always come up in debates. It comes out of the blue, when you're least expecting it. . . . .


Sort of like the Spanish Inquisition?

That might work - when that point in the conversation is reached, you say; "Well, I certainly didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition".

[Vim Razz]

Originally posted by fishbob
Sort of like the Spanish Inquisition?

That might work - when that point in the conversation is reached, you say; "Well, I certainly didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition". [JARRING CHORD]

[The cardinals burst in]

Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!


"The Vitrolis point" has a rather nice ring to it, though I'm not sure I'd be up to explaining it after the 498,237th occasion.

[Garrette]

I'm voting Vitriolis Point.

It just works, dammit.

[Vikram]

Originally posted by Dragon
The catch is, just like invoking Godwin's Law, as soon as you say "We have reached The Vitriolis Point" then you automatically lose the debate.

[diabolical laugh] Bwaahh Ha Ha Ha Ha[/diabolical laugh]
Oh puhleeze! If you truly believe that, then there's no difference between Hitler and you. :p

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

What the hell does vitriolis point mean?

I think it should be of the form jumping the X, so I'm inclined to go with Dr. A's suggestion.

~~ Paul

[Vim Razz]

Hmmm... "Jumping the yeti" inclines itself to potential conotations that I would prefer to avoid in polite conversation, though...

[Brahe]

Originally posted by Vim Razz
Hmmm... "Jumping the yeti" inclines itself to potential conotations that I would prefer to avoid in polite conversation, though...
I can understand that the term requires some explanation, but I don't know of any conotations besides those stemming from the mythical nature of the yeti. Could you please explain your point further?

[Francois Tremblay]

Little do you know that Vitriolis is actually Hitler's Brain.

[Vim Razz]

Originally posted by Brahe
I can understand that the term requires some explanation, but I don't know of any conotations besides those stemming from the mythical nature of the yeti. Could you please explain your point further? No, I refuse. That would despoil my pristine and angelic reputation. :o

I can, however, compliment you on your lack of a dirty, dirty, dirty mind. :D


Edit: Spelling, as usual

[clarsct]

Jump the Worldly Bounds of Reality

Yeah, it's a bit of a mouthful, (hush Vim Razz) but it would get the point across.

Maybe the Mythical Point.

Jump the Twilight Zone.

The Twilight point?

I think we need a poll......

[Ladewig]

Jump the Yeti is good, but I like Vitriolis Point better.

In either case, there is an immediate need for such a term in order to describe threads such as Nostradamus Commentator thread over in the GS&P forum.