Science Memes

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submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's a launching point for a really interesting discussion, which I doubt you wanted so I'll cut it short. The gist is: do words have any meaning at all, and if so, is there such a thing as objective truth, and then shouldn't the former be reflective of the latter?

"Mammal" means something, and all the Reddit-esque "acktwually" aside, it means something different from "animal". But rather than say "thank you for the correction, yes that is what I meant, what you said", the implication being that we all stand together side-by-side in front of Truth, with those closer to it being the ones considered "correct", many instead would hold onto pride and say like "nuh-uh, I know you are but what am I?" One fosters a sense of community, while the other divides it into those who enjoy shitting onto others and those who (surely) enjoy being shat upon.

There is a saying that pride goes before a fall. And with planes having parts falling off of them inside the US, and literally falling from the sky into the ocean (that one off the coast of Africa, in at least one case), I'd say that we could definitely use more of the former where we consider 1+1=2 as a more worthwhile goal than "everyone is always correct, bc even if not, they surely meant to be and that's enough".

Of course if not, then surely you agree with me anyway, since I am responding to the meaning behind your words? ;-)

Or if still not, then you may want to block me, since I have a feeling you may not enjoy much of what I will have to say across the Fediverse.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Sure in some cases there can be an objective truth probably, although i doubt any of us is as close to it as some people seem to enjoy thinking they are. But i think what you're missing (possibly intentionally) about my point is that if you know what someone meant then they achieved the objective of communicating, and by choosing to ignore what they meant and instead focus on what they incorrectly said then i feel like you're consciously choosing to move the conversation away from 'truth' and toward 'correctness' out of some need to feel superior. There is a time and place to correct people, but lots of people (and you may or may not be one of them) seem incapable of distinguishing when it is not the right time or place.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I acknowledge that there is that as well:-). The hard part is that the OP is a joke, somewhat, so all answers seem to work within that context.

And Truth is such a very slender path between extremes - e.g. 1+1= neither 2.1 nor 1.9, but exactly 2 in-between.

So if I say that Truth matters, generally speaking, and you say that it depends on the context, then strictly speaking your argument must win. e.g. in a discussion between literally toddlers the facts would not matter, hence you are most definitely correct that there exists some scenarios where it does not.

I was bemoaning how society in general chooses for it not to matter, more often than the reverse - yes, definitely the road less traveled for sure. We all exist on that spectrum, with choices as to when and where and what and why and how.

And how ironic that we are nitpicking on these points to find the real Truth - that was supposed to be my schtick! But instead we will share it together:-). And here I am not joking: since I do value Truth, I enjoy both of our POVs here: sometimes Truth matters, sometimes it does not, but in general I wish people would value it more often than happens currently, even though sometimes indeed it can get in the way of other things too, like friendships.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Okay but words are not math. Language exists solely for the purpose of communicating ideas, and if you understand the idea that someone is trying to convey and that idea is not false, but their word choice is inaccurate then you most definitely are just nit-picking, and its not in search of some greater 'truth' because the actual truth of the conversation is what they were intending. I feel like you're conflating truth with accuracy. Misusing the word animal when you mean mammal is not false in the same way as saying the sky is green or the covid vaccine gives you aids. Words can also have multiple meanings, which lends itself to more than one truth. Theres the scientific definition, and as i mentioned, the colloquial usage. So if a majority of the population understands a word to mean one thing in one context and another thing in a different context, and you willfully ignore that societal understanding in favor of 'scientific validation', then you are again ignoring a form of truth.

[–] sukhmel 2 points 1 month ago

How do you make sure you understood the idea if the word choice is incorrect? You may assume from context what the idea was, but you may as well assume wrong. And the more such assumptions exist in one dialogue, the further it is from information exchange, and the closer it is to not listening at all because you already knew the context before the dialogue

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I believe that's a terribly slippery slope there: truth lies not only in the artist who made something but also the beholder who receives it. It's both. If I sent you an unasked-for picture, say of my genitals, then my own preferences in the matter may be said to matter less than those of the recipient even!

Or I could say e.g.: that men and women are the same thing (I mean... 22 other chromosomes are so...), or that men and bears are the same - neither is particularly true, nor does me saying it help make it so. The burden is on me to communicate whatever I intended - men and women are similar, and indeed the same in so many aspects, though not precisely all; and similarly with men and bears.

I preemptively agree that the importance of saying that mammals is the same thing as animals is low. Unless, that is, someone has decided to really really really really really care about the answer, for whatever reason, and then to them it will matter. But how then will they find the answer in such case, when everywhere they look, people all agree that those words mean the same thing?

You seem to be arguing that mammals == animals is a matter of subjective opinion, like the sky is beautiful, rather than of fact, like the sky is green, or blue, or whatever the names of colors mean. It is not though?

Oh well, no biggie. But I do think that facts matter, and furthermore I think that the very existence of the USA is at stake upon this issue. Not that I have anything against you personally I hope you understand (my intent there only going partway to explaining that, and the burden to communicate such being partway on me to say whatever I mean), it's just that I get triggered upon this matter, as I wonder how many of my family members will be among those who get killed as a result.

Anyway, far from ignoring that "truth", I was in fact bemoaning (and also making fun of:-P) its existence. Not every popular trend is equally valid. Case in point, I was making fun of the existence of the former, which you took exception to, so apparently you agree that despite the fact that MANY people think that mammals==animals, that there should be other interpretations that are equally valid and my pointing out the opposite was something that you felt needed to be spoken out against. If only there was some way to arbitrate! Some way to find out which things were "true", vs. "untrue"! Sadly, there is not it seems, so in your mind you will remain "correct" and in mine I will do the same. No /s - I truly bemoan that fact, but I know of no way to remedy it: in my worldview, facts, and only facts, are true, regardless of how many people believe otherwise.