trentmkelly/rationalwiki huggingface dataset:
Debby Bruck

{{altmed}}
'''Debby "Duck" Bruck''' {{lived|1952|2018}} was a [[homeopathy|homeopath]], shill and contributor to sites within the [[walled garden]] used by homeopaths to reinforce their shared delusion that their practices have some degree of scientific validity. 

The easiest place to find her was on Twitter where @DebbyBruck continues to spam links to a variety of [[quack]] websites via automated services. Prior to her death in 2018,<ref>[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/debra-bruck-obituary?pid=188940937 Debra Sue Bruck, Cary, North Carolina, 1952 - 2018,] legacy.com.</ref> her tweets were usually to her own "homeopathy world community" ("creating waves of awareness" no less),<ref>[http://www.homeopathyworldcommunity.com Homeopathy World Community]</ref> a site where the [[skeptic|infidel horde]] often can't even view the content let alone register or post. This is the site that came up with the idea of trying to stop the [[UK]]'s [[Advertising Standards Authority]] from addressing the false claims of homeopaths by dredging up some [[Pakistan]]i and [[India]]n users and playing the [[race card]].<ref>[http://www.freezepage.com/1305212280ZNHZGCORQS Complaints About Homeopaths To The UK Advertising Standards Authority], Homeopathy World Community (archived)</ref> Maybe that's where [[Errol Denton|Error Denton]] got the idea.

Examples of her output may be seen at sites where quacks, frauds and [[charlatan]]s typically go to promote views they can't get into Wikipedia, such as hubpages.com.<ref>[http://debbybruck.hubpages.com/ Debby Bruck at HubPages].</ref> She also "presented" on the inaccurately-titled podcast site Blog Talk Radio.<ref>[https://www.blogtalkradio.com/homeopathyworldcommunity Homeopathy World Community], Blog Talk Radio. Retrieved October 27th, 2021.</ref> 

She was also an [[anti-vaccination]] crank.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130520051800/http://debbybruck.com/main/?cat=19 Do Scientific Facts Determine Societal Action Regarding Vaccines?] ''Debby Bruck''. December 24, 2012. Archived from the original.</ref>

==External links==
*[https://twitter.com/DebbyBruck Her Twitter]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruck, Debby}}

{{stub|Homeopathy}}

[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Spammers]]

Categories: Anti-vaccination movement, Pseudoscience promoters, Spammers
Debunkatron

{{skepnav|1}}
'''Debunkatron.com''' is a website that has debunked or provided debunk-ready resources for an absurdly large number of topics, including:

*{{web|[[Alternative medicine]]|http://debunkatron.com/#AltMed}}
*{{web|[[Food woo]]|http://debunkatron.com/#Nutrition}}
*{{web|[[Conspiracy theories]]|http://debunkatron.com/#Conspiracies}}
*{{web|[[Creationism]]|http://debunkatron.com/#Creationism}}
*{{web|[[Paranormal]]|http://debunkatron.com/#Paranormal}}
*{{web|and various other topics|http://debunkatron.com/#Misc}}

In addition, the site provides hefty lists of skeptic tools & communities:

*{{web|Tools for assessing claims|http://debunkatron.com/#Tools}}
*{{web|Concepts and subjects for your debunking toolbox|http://debunkatron.com/#Toolbox}}
*{{web|Resources and communities for your debunking toolbox|http://debunkatron.com/#Resources}}

Sister sites include:

*'''Wackos.Gallery''', an alphabetic list of the biggest nutters out there.<ref>{{a|http://wackos.gallery/|Wackos Gallery}}</ref>
*'''Placebo Mart''', a selection of the strongest non-active ingredients<ref>{{a|http://placebo-mart.com/|Placebo Mart}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Talk.Origins]]
*[[Nodes of Science]]

==External links==
*[http://debunkatron.com/ Debunkatron]

==References==
{{reflist}}
Definitional fallacies

[[File:Circular definition of inflammable liquid.png|thumb|170px]]{{lognav}}{{hatnote|Not to be confused with [[No True Scotsman]] -- when one redefines a term mid-debate.}}
'''Definitional fallacies''' are [[logical fallacies]] that occur when some definition fails to properly explain some term.

Definitional fallacies are [[fallacy of ambiguity|fallacies of ambiguity]] and [[informal fallacy|informal fallacies]].

==Circularity==
{{main|Tautology}}
If a term is defined by itself, the definition carries no new information.

==Too broad==
The fallacy of "too broad", or "discarded differentia", occurs if when defining a term, instances are included that aren't usually called by that term.

For example:
:''A [[fish]] is an aquatic vertebrate.''

This definition would include animals like whales and turtles, which are not fish, so the definition needs to be refined:
:''A fish is a cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate with two sets of paired fins that is covered with scales.''

This definition now excludes those animals that wouldn't be considered fish.

==Too Narrow==
The fallacy of "too narrow" occurs if when defining a term, instances aren't included that are usually called by that term.

For example:
:''A rectangle is an object with four perpendicular sides of equal length.''

This would exclude all rectangles that aren't square. Instead, rectangle must be defined as:

:''A rectangle is an object with four sides, each one perpendicular to its adjoining sides.''

==Ambiguity==
{{main|Fallacy of ambiguity}}
A term is ambiguous if it's unclear what it means.

==External Links==
*[http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/broad.htm Too Broad], Stephen Downes
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20060318125515/http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/define/narrow.htm Too Narrow], Stephen's Guide

{{logfal}}

[[Category:Fallacies of ambiguity]]
[[Category:Informal fallacies]]

Categories: Fallacies of ambiguity, Informal fallacies
Deliberate offence

The tactic of taking '''deliberate offense''' is a common one in debates in politics and on the Internet. It consists of finding or creating an interpretation of an opponent's words that is repugnant in a [[racist]], [[sexist]], or otherwise inflammatory way, bypassing the actual topic of argument. [[Persecution complex|This gives the "offended" party the automatic advantage of victimhood]], and ensures that future replies must tread very carefully.

Like many rhetorical tactics, it can be difficult to discern deliberate offense. Sometimes a sentiment can be actually offensive ("I'm not saying that all black people are stupid, just that they're all thieves."), sometimes offense is being manufactured ("I can't believe you said that [[Margaret Thatcher]] is ugly! That's just a slur against all women!"), and sometimes the person is just being stupid ("wtf y u say that everyone in a synagogue is [[Judaism|jewish]].") More often than not, they're just being stupid.

On the Internet, this is a frequent tactic of [[concern troll]]s, who will contort an opponent's words into any possible position to find a way to make them offensive. It is also particularly frequent during discussions of [[affirmative action]], with charges of racism thrown around by both proponents and opponents, and during discussions of [[Israel]], where any criticism of the country is labeled [[Antisemitism|anti-semitic]].

==See also==
*[[Concern troll]]
*[[Inflammatory language]]
*[[Political correctness]]
*[[Racism]]
*[[Sexism]]
*[[Microaggression]]
*[[Bad faith]]

[[Category:Political terms]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
{{stub|Politics}}

Categories: Political terms, Internet culture
Delusion

{{Psychology}}
{{cquote|When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called [[insanity]]. When many people suffer from a delusion, it is called [[religion]].|||Robert M. Pirsig<ref>''Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals'' by Robert M. Pirsig (1991) Bantam. ISBN 0553299611.</ref>}}

A '''delusion''' is a false belief about external reality that is [[Scientific method|evidently false]] or that remains unchanged despite obvious evidence to the contrary.<ref name=DSM-5>APA (2013). DSM-5 {{{!}}} Glossary pp. 819-820</ref> It is commonly (but not exclusively) the result of a mental disorder, such as [[schizophrenia]] or [[psychosis]]. Delusions are often bizarre, meaning physically impossible.<ref name=DSM-5 />{{efn|From ''[[The Skeptic's Dictionary]]'': "Being deluded is not the same as being mentally ill. A delusion is a false belief that cannot be corrected with compelling evidence or sound arguments. Some mental illnesses do involve fixations on false beliefs that no amount of evidence or cogent reasoning can alter. But everyone—not just the mentally ill—is subject to numerous "hidden persuaders" that trick us into believing we know something when we don't. We did not evolve to care as much about the truth of a belief as its utility. Whole nations can be deluded about such things as witches or gods or psychics quite easily with a mixture of ignorance, [[wishful thinking]], [[communal reinforcement]], [[confirmation bias]], and [[motivated reasoning]]."<ref>[https://skepdic.com/faq.html#2 "FAQ (frequently asked questions)" / Q2]. ''The Skeptic's Dictionary''.</ref>}}

The noted [[New Atheist]], [[Richard Dawkins]], wrote a book entitled ''[[The God Delusion]]'', in which he asserted that the question of [[God]]'s existence was tied to the question of [[Creationism|special creation]], and then argued that since special creation has largely been demonstrated to be false, belief in [[God]] is a delusion.

==See also==
*[[Crank]]
*[[Creationism]]
*[[Fanatic]]
*[[Face on Mars]]
*[[Fake news]]
*[[Donald Trump]]<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-donald-trump-and-gaslighting/2017/01/27/b02e6de4-e330-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html What we talk about when we talk about Donald Trump and ‘gaslighting’] by Caitlin Gibson (January 27 at 1:25 PM) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>
*[[Hallucination]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==External links==
*{{wpa|Gas Light|''Gas Light'' (the play)}}
*{{wpa|Gaslight (1940 film)|''Gaslight'' (1940 film)}}
*{{wpa|Gaslight (1944 film)|''Gaslight'' (1944 film)}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{stub|Psychology}}

[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Cognitive biases]]

Categories: Psychology, Cognitive biases
Delusions of grandeur

{{Psychology}}
'''Delusions of grandeur''' is a phrase used to describe those who have a highly inflated sense of importance. It is akin to {{wpl|megalomania}} in the sense that they both relate to the idea of [[Narcissistic personality disorder|narcissism]], except that megalomania is classified as either "a psychological condition or an ''absolute'' obsession with [[Ethical egoism|having power, wealth, or grandiose things]]", as opposed to the ''delusion'' of actually having them. Grandiose delusions, sometimes called the "expansive personality", are commonly found in the manic phase of bipolar disorder and consist of bizarre inflated beliefs about one's own social status, influence, and abilities (typical themes include being incredibly rich, being a religious figure like Jesus or the Virgin Mary, being royalty, etc.);<ref>https://psychcentral.com/encyclopedia/delusion-of-grandeur/</ref> they are typically treated with antipsychotics and other medications.<ref>https://psychcentral.com/disorders/delusional-disorder-treatment/</ref>

==Informal usage==
The term is also used colloquially to refer to ''[[wikt:hubris|hubris]]'', or [[Dunning-Kruger effect|false pride in one's own qualities or accomplishments]], exhibited by many people who are not clinically delusional. Many people have extreme confidence in their own ability and do not know enough to understand their limitations.<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/why_losers_have_delusions_of_grandeur_kmSEG1YrE1Uhfh1fL4tdWP The less you know, the more you think you do]</ref>

For example, a number of people believe that they are among a chosen few that will be [[Rapture|swept up into heaven by God at the end of the world]], usually projected to occur sometime next week. This leads some of them to think that they are somehow better than those who, by their determination, are not thus going to be swept up.

Another example is those people who believe that the ideas bouncing around in their skulls are the greatest ones since sliced bread, when in [[reality]] they are a colossal load of [[Bullshit|codswallop]]. A large number of [[pseudoscience]] promoters and other [[crank]]s fall into this category. It is also a virtual prerequisite for any [[dictator]] worth his salt.

==See also==
*[[Persecution complex]]
*[[Dunning-Kruger effect]]
*[[Micronation]]
*[[Nationalist pseudohistory]]
*[[Personality disorder]] (especially {{wpl|narcissism||)}}
*[[Jerusalem syndrome]]
*[[Donald Trump]]
**[[Trumpism]]
*[[Falkland Islands]] (a.k.a. [[Argentina]] making a complete fool of itself)
*[[Ultracrepidarianism]]
*[[North Korea]]
*[[DAESH]] (the self-proclaimed [[caliphate]] that no sane Muslim accepts except at gunpoint)
*[[Special:MyPage|{{USERNAME}}]]

==External links==
*[http://psychcentral.com/encyclopedia/2008/delusion-of-grandeur/ Delusions of Grandeur] Medical encyclopedia article

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Psychology]]

Categories: Psychology
Demand curve

[[File:Supply-Demand-Graph.png|175px|thumb|Demand slopes down!]]
{{economics}}
The '''demand curve''' is a visual representation of how much consumers will pay for some good or service in an economy based on different prices often used by [[economists]]. The demand curve slopes downward to the right, indicating that as prices fall, more quantity is sought after.<ref>Taborrok, Alex. "[https://mru.org/courses/principles-economics-microeconomics/demand-curve-shifts-definition The Demand Curve | Microeconomics]". ''Marginal Revolution University.'' 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2020-01-26.</ref> 

==Demand==
Demand is usually meant as the demand curve. Where the demand curve intersects with the [[supply curve]] (equilibrium) is where the price of something is roughly determined. The terms demand and spending are sometimes used interchangeably. The year end aggregate demand in an economy can be thought of as total spending.<ref>"[https://www.britannica.com/topic/demand-curve Demand curve | economics]". ''Encyclopedia Britannica.'' Retrieved 2020-01-26.</ref> Because of the important role consumer and business spending plays in maintaining a healthy economy [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian economists]] often focus a lot on aggregate demand. A fall in demand often accompanies [[Recession|deflation and unemployment]]. 
===Quantity demanded===
The quantity demanded for a good or service is how much people are willing to buy of it at a certain point on a supply curve. If the supply curve for oranges shifts to the left because of a [[hurricane]] in [[Florida]], the quantity demanded will fall, though the demand curve itself may not move for awhile.<ref>"[https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/microeconomics/supply-demand-equilibrium/demand-curve-tutorial/a/law-of-demand Law of demand]". ''Khan Academy.''</ref><ref>Kenton, Will. "[https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/demand-curve.asp Demand Curve]". ''Investopedia.'' Retrieved 2020-01-26.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Supply curve]]
*[[Gross domestic product]]
*[[Elasticity (economics)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Economics]]

Categories: Economics
Democracy Index

The '''Democracy Index''' is an annual report produced by the [[The Economist|Economist]] Intelligence Unit since 2006.<ref>[http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy_Index_2010_web.pdf Democracy Index 2010]</ref> In its latest report the top nation was [[Norway]] and the bottom ranked was [[Afghanistan]], followed by [[Myanmar]] and [[North Korea]].{{efn|What a huge surprise. Don't worry – we're shocked too!|}} The index is compiled by examining the state of [[democracy]] in 167 countries and attempts to quantify this with an their Index of Democracy which focuses on five general categories: electoral process and pluralism, [[civil liberties]], functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. In addition, it lumps countries into one of four different categories: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and [[authoritarian]] regimes. 

As of 2021 countries that were rated as flawed democracies and authoritarian regimes were considered the most common regime types with each being represented by 53 and 59 countries retrospectively and representing 39.3% and 35.3% of the world's population retrospectively. Countries that were rated as full democracies where considered the least common with only 21 countries that made up 6.4% of the globe's population.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Stub|government}}
[[Category:Government]]
[[Category:International relations]]

Categories: Government, International relations
Democratic-Republican Party

{{uspolitics}}
The '''Democratic-Republican Party''' was an [[Federalist Party|anti-federalist]] party, founded in the early 1790s by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]]. It was commonly called the '''Republican Party''' for short,<ref group=note>Detractors called it the Democratic Party for short, attempting to imply that the party supported "[[mobocracy|mob rule]]."  A lot has changed.</ref> but it is not related to today's [[Republican Party]]. 

Democratic-Republicans generally stood for a [[small government|smaller federal government]], [[states' rights]] (which wasn't associated with [[slavery]] yet) and supported working with the [[French]] over the [[United Kingdom|British]].

The party had a monopoly on presidencies until 1829, with the party dissolving in 1825. It was officially succeeded by the [[Democratic Party]].<ref group=note>A ''lot'' has changed.</ref>

==History==
Following [[George Washington]]'s decision to step down in 1796, the Democratic-Republican Jefferson and the Federalist [[John Adams]] faced off for the (then under construction) White House. Adams was elected, but following some unpopular decisions and attempts to suppress his opposition,<ref>http://www.crf-usa.org/america-responds-to-terrorism/the-alien-and-sedition-acts.html</ref> Jefferson returned and was elected in 1800. 

The Federalist platform became increasingly hard to sell as time went on. At the same time, the Democratic-Republican ideas of a reduced military, paying off the national debt, and eliminating a federal bank<ref>[http://academic.eb.com/presidents/article-9063241 Which they waited 11 years to do]</ref> remained popular. By 1808 both [[Congress]] and the Executive branch were under firm control outside of New England.<ref>http://www.270towin.com/1808_Election/</ref> There was some backlash early in the [[War of 1812]], but following the U.S. essentially became a one-party state. 

==Too big for its own good==
As one would expect for a loosely-organized political organization with no opposition, the party quickly factionalized. In the 1824 election, they failed to decide on a single candidate, and a four-way race resulted.<ref>http://www.270towin.com/1824_Election/index.html</ref> After this, the party gave rise to the Democrats under [[Andrew Jackson]], and the  Whigs under everyone who hated Jackson.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|history}}

{{USPoliticalParty}}
[[Category:United States history]]
[[Category:United States political parties]]
[[Category:Classical liberal political parties]]

Categories: United States history, United States political parties, Classical liberal political parties
Demographic Winter

{{sources needed}}{{film}}{{title-italics}}
'''''Demographic Winter, the decline of the human family''''' is a very downbeat, ominous documentary devoted to the [[conservative]] [[Antifeminism|antifeminist]] argument that, if the little (white) ladies don't remember their place and get back indoors and start squeezing out babies pretty sharpish, [[Western world|Western civilization]] will [[declinism|decline]] just like the [[Roman Empire]].

==Production==
The film is narrated by Judith Adolphson and edited by Rick Stout. It was produced by Barry McLerran and Rick Stout who along with Executive Producer Steven E. Smoot provided the majority funding. Additional funding was provided by the Family First Foundation, the GFC Foundation and Audience Alliance Motion Picture Foundation. It was released in 2008 by Acuity Productions.

==See also==
*[[Demographic crisis]]
*[[Depopulation conspiracy theory]]
*"[[Pro-life]]"
*[[White extinction scenario]]

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeyYIsGdAA&feature=youtube_gdata_player Part 1] on [[YouTube]].
*[http://kathrynjoyce.com/articles/review-demographic-winter-the-decline-of-the-human-family/ A rather well-wrtten review] by Kathryn Joyce, for ''Harvard Divinity Bulletin''
{{stub|films}}

[[Category:Antifeminism]]
[[Category:Sexism]]
[[Category:Schlockumentaries]]

Categories: Antifeminism, Sexism, Schlockumentaries
Demonization

{{logicnav}}
{{hatnote|Not to be confused with {{wpl|demonetisation||.}}}}
'''Demonization''' (or '''demonisation,''' as it is spelt in [[British]] [[English]]) is an [[Rhetoric|argumentative strategy]], often employed in [[political]] contexts, whereby one group consistently paints a rival group as [[evil]], corrupt, bent on their [[slavery|enslavement]] or destruction, or engaged in various other forms of malevolence. Such a strategy is quite good for whipping up [[lynch mob]]s, quelling internal strife 'in the face of the common threat', and stifling the usual twinges of conscience most people experience when mistreating others. Demonization is often aided by and sometimes requires the use of [[otherism]].

==Examples==
*One of the long-standing examples of demonization is [[antisemitism]] (see: the "[[Evil Jew]]" stereotype).

*The early 21<sup>st</sup> century has seen increasingly virulent [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] sentiment in the [[West]], largely since the events of [[9/11]].

*People of [[Hispanic]] descent are often demonized by [[US]] politicians. Anti-Hispanic [[rhetoric]] was a central strategy in US President-elect [[Donald Trump]]'s 2016 campaign; for many in the US, Hispanics have become a [[scapegoat]] for joblessness and other economic woes, not to mention Trump's infamous "criminals, drug dealers, rapists" line.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/07/08/donald-trumps-false-comments-connecting-mexican-immigrants-and-crime/ Donald Trump’s false comments connecting Mexican immigrants and crime] by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (July 8, 2015) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*[[Conservative talk radio]] depends on the demonization of [[liberal]]s (and even [[moderate]]s) for most of their material; barring said demonization of moderates, similar can be said of some left-leaning radio as well.

*In [[Internet]] [[debates]], demonization often rears its head in the form of [[Godwin's Law]]: comparing the opposition to [[Hitler]] and/or the [[Nazi]]s.

*Some [[Christian fundamentalist]]s will consider other [[deities]] mentioned in the [[Bible]], venerated when it was written as [[Baal]] and [[Asherah]], as [[demons]], while others extend it to ''[[List of gods that theists don't believe in|all]]'' those gods that are not the Christian one.

*[[LGBT]] persons, and especially [[transgender]] persons, have been demonized by a class of socially conservative people embracing irrational [[homophobia|homophobic]] claims (e.g. [[Homophobia#"It's against God's law"|"it's against God's law"]]) and [[trans-exclusionary]] viewpoints (e.g. claiming that trans women [[Transphobia and public restrooms|are a threat to cis women using bathrooms]]).

==See also==
*''[[Ad hominem]]''
*[[Hate speech]]
*[[Inflammatory language]]
*[[Scapegoat]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|logic}}
{{Cognitive biases}}
{{logfal}}

[[Category:Ad hominem]]
[[Category:Fallacious arguments]]
[[Category:Political strategery]]
[[Category:Fascism]]
[[Category:Nazism]]
[[Category:Totalitarianism]]

Categories: Ad hominem, Fallacious arguments, Political strategery, Fascism, Nazism, Totalitarianism