Opinions and compromise
#11
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Originally Posted by Legal Bill,May 10 2008, 10:21 PM
Everyone knows that opinion is irrelevant. facts are all that matter. I know this because I have proven it many times in court. Did you hear me? MANY TIMES! And why would you think over someone's opinion? How would that ever give you wisdom? Thinking over an opinion means you are not sure about someone elses guess. What wisdom could come of that? It is only facts that matter. Which I have proven. MANY TIMES.
I hope that helps you. It should, because it is right.
I hope that helps you. It should, because it is right.
#12
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I think that, as an engineer, I and most other engineers that I know have a distinct definition for "fact". That definition being that a fact is something that is measurable, quantifiable, and the parameters well defined.
The volume of that ball is x cc's for example when at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. By the way, room temperature and atmospheric pressure are known quantities (based on your set of units - I.e., Imperial units, SI units, etc.)
The volume of that ball is x cc's for example when at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. By the way, room temperature and atmospheric pressure are known quantities (based on your set of units - I.e., Imperial units, SI units, etc.)
#13
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Originally Posted by DrCloud,May 12 2008, 07:55 AM
Hey, at least I picked on they agree with!
I guess I'm going to have to stop swimming against the ever-rising tide of Wikipedia as an authority, aren't I? It's just too much effort. HPH
I guess I'm going to have to stop swimming against the ever-rising tide of Wikipedia as an authority, aren't I? It's just too much effort. HPH
#14
[QUOTE=Legal Bill,May 10 2008, 06:21 PM] Everyone knows that opinion is irrelevant.
#15
Originally Posted by tof,May 12 2008, 11:05 AM
^
That's one man's opinion.
That's one man's opinion.
#16
Originally Posted by DrCloud,May 12 2008, 06:36 AM
Sunday's syndicated column by James Kilpatrick ("The Writer's Art") talked about facts, and to him facts are such things as 2+2=4 and other objectively true things.
There are no "facts". Or there are lots of "facts". It depends on your definition of "fact". Your list of "facts" can be very different from mine.
We all have different opinions about what is and what is not a fact. Some of these differences stem from differences in our observations and in our analysis of those observations. We even differ as to what constitute a fact. We all use different scales by which we judge what it takes for a bit of information to qualify as a "fact".
I take the extreme view that the only fact I know to be true is that I exist in some shape or form. (Cognito ergo sum...I think so therefore I am.) Everything else is opinion based on observation and memory. Others accept the existance of God as a fact. (Some even live accordingly.) There are many poor souls who take anything they read in World Weekly News as fact. But to me, its all opinion based on remembered observations and on an analysis of those observations. Some opinions are more informed and therefore more likely to be true than others. But they are all, in the end, only opinions.
I suppose you could argue that "facts" are those things that we base our actions upon with a high degree of confidence that they are true. This definition is a little slippery, though. The nature of the action determines how rigorously we apply our confidence test. I am more likely to accept as fact that my jacket will keep me warm enough for a given outside temperature than I am to accept as fact that my parachute will keep me safe if I jump out of an airplane. Never mind that the guy who packed my chute is probably better at that than I am at judging the effectiveness of my outerwear.
If you look at "facts" this way, then it becomes clear that they are not truths in the absolute sense but mearly guesses at absolute truths. As soon as you accept that then you begin to understand that facts are neither black or white but merely shades of grey, that reasonable people can disagree about the validity of many "facts" and that it the exploration of such differences can contribute to what we like to call wisdome.
And 2+2 does equal 11, in base 3.
#17
Originally Posted by Starbrd,May 10 2008, 09:30 AM
I have spent some time reading several pages of back posts. At some point it became clear to me that some people don't like to hear contributors express their opinion relatively forcefully and in an unqualified way.
#18
Now THERE is a sensible way to deal with folks who annly you with their posts. Of course thats only my opinion.
#20
Originally Posted by trapper,May 12 2008, 05:20 PM
OK for MOST cases..... However I have learned, having been married for many many years, that when my wife speaks, I listen and learn and remember forever the unassailable truth.
amen brother