exception that proves the rule
few phrases identify dumbasses so readily as “exception that proves the rule”. anytime you hear this mating call of the damned used regarding contravention of a supposed rule, the emitter may safely be written off as the usual unobservant lemming/clod who attempts to corral nonsense for his cause. the phrase is used correctly fewer than once per hundred hurls. standard moron version:
“Driving at night is far more dangerous than during the day.”“Oh, I don’t know about that; my uncle does most of his driving at night, and he’s never had an accident.”
“He’s the exception that proves the rule.”
underlying premise: “evidence running counter to my assertion supports my assertion.”
such is the acuity of the average man.
however, “exception that proves the rule” is a valuable concept, especially in law. for example, if a building owner posts a sign stating, “Guns prohibited on premises between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00″, he’s implying that guns are allowed all other times — proof enough if contested. the exception is outside the rule it implies, not a contravention of an explicit rule.
January 12th, 2011 at 04:40
[...] core of voluntarism? the initiation of force is prohibited. in the rare accurate sense of “exception that proves the rule“, initiation of force debarred voluntarists leaves open force not initiated. pay attention, [...]