Poe's law

Definitions

1. An internet adage which states that without a clear indicator of the author's intent (such as a smiley or '/s' tag), it is impossible to create a parody of extreme views so obviously exaggerated that it cannot be mistaken by some reader for a sincere expression of those views. Originally formulated in the context of creationism debates, Poe's law has become a foundational concept for understanding irony collapse in online discourse.

   In plain English: The idea that extreme opinions and satire of extreme opinions look identical on the internet unless someone explicitly labels the joke.

   Example: "Is that account serious or satirical? I genuinely cannot tell anymore. Poe's law has made the internet unreadable."

Related Terms

• Streisand effect
• Godwin's law
• Cunningham's law