Moving the goalposts

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Moving the goalposts (or shifting the goalposts) is a metaphor meaning to change the criterion (goal) of a process or competition while still in progress, in such a way that the new goal offers one side an intentional advantage or disadvantage.^[1]

Etymology

This phrase is a straightforward derivation from sports that use goalposts, such as football. The figurative use alludes to the perceived unfairness in changing the goal one is trying to achieve after the process one is engaged in (e.g. a game of football) has already started. The phrase came into wide use in the UK during the 1980s. The first known attested use is in 1987.^[1]

As abuse

Shifting the goalposts is a commonly recognized technique for destabilization in workplace bullying, often without even telling the victim. ^[2][3]

For example, if an employee was told by their boss that they would be allowed to go home once a quota were filled, met the quota and prepared to go home, only to discover that their boss had increased the original quota, this could be a case of this tactic.

As logical fallacy

Moving the goalposts, also known as raising the bar, is an informal logically fallacious argument in which evidence presented in response to a specific claim is dismissed and some other (often greater) evidence is demanded. In other words, after a goal has been scored, the goalposts are moved farther to discount the attempt. This attempts to leave the impression that an argument had a fair hearing while actually reaching a preordained conclusion.^[4]

Feature creep

Moving the goalposts may also refer to feature creep, in which the completion of a product like software is not acknowledged because an evolving list of required features changes over time, which may require entire remaking of the program. Thus, the goal of "completing" the product for a client may never occur.

Other uses

The term is often used in business to imply bad faith on the part of those setting goals for others to meet, by arbitrarily making additional demands just as the initial ones are about to be met.

Accusations of this form of abuse tend to occur when there are unstated assumptions that are obvious to one party but not to another. E.g., "Killing all the fleas on a cat is very easy" (with the unstated condition that "The cat still remains alive and in good health").

See also

References