Cheerful Good Morning to You, Esteemed and Noble Denizens of RF!
Today I would enjoy calling your attention to the simple but astonishing fact that at least half the arguments between noble and esteemed members of RF appear to me to be wholly semantic in origin and nature -- or are at least significantly compounded by semantic disagreements. If I am correct about that, then a whole lot of the arguments on this board are -- to use a technical philosophical term -- WEE-WEE PUDDLESCRAP!
Put differently, many of us illustrious and scintillating RFers are indulging ourselves in nonsensical arguments. Arguments that create misunderstandings, encourage hatreds and animosities, and resolve nothing -- nothing at all.
Pray allow me to offer for your astute consideration, the following hypothetical example of a typical argument based on purely semantic differences...
There are a thousand variations on the above sort of argument, but I estimate that at least half the arguments on this board are either purely semantic disagreements -- or are at least compounded by semantic disagreements.
Discuss.
__________________________
And now for some music... "Reincarnation" by the Hang Gai band
Today I would enjoy calling your attention to the simple but astonishing fact that at least half the arguments between noble and esteemed members of RF appear to me to be wholly semantic in origin and nature -- or are at least significantly compounded by semantic disagreements. If I am correct about that, then a whole lot of the arguments on this board are -- to use a technical philosophical term -- WEE-WEE PUDDLESCRAP!
Put differently, many of us illustrious and scintillating RFers are indulging ourselves in nonsensical arguments. Arguments that create misunderstandings, encourage hatreds and animosities, and resolve nothing -- nothing at all.
Pray allow me to offer for your astute consideration, the following hypothetical example of a typical argument based on purely semantic differences...
LUDWIG THE HUN: "There is snow on the ground." (Ludwig is using the word "snow" to mean a frozen and crystallized form of water.)
MERLE MEDDLESNOUT: "Wow! That much snow must cost a fortune!" (Merle is assuming Ludwig is using the word "snow" to mean cocaine.)
LUDWIG: "No, you are mistaken. Snow falls from the sky and is perfectly free."
MERLE: "That's crazy, you peach-sucking fruit peddler! In my neighborhood, I know for a fact that snow costs just under $100 per gram! By my calculations, I can scientifically prove that enough snow to cover your front lawn an inch deep would run into the millions of dollars. Concede defeat!"
LUDWIG: "Why you failed laboratory experiment! You are defining "snow" as "cocaine" while God knows snow is properly defined as frozen and crystallized water. Please slink back to the puddle you emerged from this morning to pollute my life."
***MOD POST***
CASTING ASPERSIONS UPON EACH OTHER'S EVOLUTIONARY PROGRESS IS A VIOLATION OF RULE 22! REMEMBER: PLAY NICE!
CASTING ASPERSIONS UPON EACH OTHER'S EVOLUTIONARY PROGRESS IS A VIOLATION OF RULE 22! REMEMBER: PLAY NICE!
MERLE: "You are so naive, Ludwig. God defines "snow" as cocaine. It is your usage of the word that is in error, you skivvy flapping piston-licker!"
LUDWIG: "No! No! No! God clearly intended the only proper use of "snow" to mean water. WATER! Get it?"
There are a thousand variations on the above sort of argument, but I estimate that at least half the arguments on this board are either purely semantic disagreements -- or are at least compounded by semantic disagreements.
Discuss.
__________________________
And now for some music... "Reincarnation" by the Hang Gai band