Philocthetes Philocthetes

The meaning of it all

▼

The meaning of it all

dedicated to Evil Stormbringer and Wheeloffire

from GalCiv2 Forums
Evil did me right by starting his own thread on the "what's a thief" question. But a few posts later in that Grammar nazi sprawl thread, QuietlyObserving says "If we are to be a society founded on the Rule of Law, it would be prudent to maintain a healthy respect for language and the meaning of words, lest we slip into a dictatorship of unelected Judges."

This gives me a painfully beautiful opportunity to start a sister thread to Evil's, and ask you all to sink your fangs, fingers, etc., into the basic question "How does a law rule without a human to interpret and/or execute it?"

That's my latest hasty attempt at a longstanding interest in the gov't-of-law-and-not-men notion that's very popular here in the US. I've also known a few linguists and flirted with other philosphies enough to be taken aback by anyone who has too much certainty about the meaning of a particular word or phrase.

Unless you're a minor with parents who don't want you seeing PG-13 movies (I know we have some sharp youth out there, just want to respect your folks), I suggest finding and playing fword.wav before you finish a reply here.
off-topic
278,586 views 655 replies
Reply #551 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I dont know,

But what I do know is the fact shaking hands transfers more germs than kissing someone.
Reply #552 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But what I do know is the fact shaking hands transfers more germs than kissing someone.


no.

shaking hands does not transfer germs. it is what you do with your hands afterwards that determines what germs are transfered. Whereas kissing is an instantaneous transfer of germs.

you could just as easily say that walking transfers more germs than kissing but that is irrelevant as well unless you like to lick the bottom of your shoe!
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #553 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
my question should have been why did we start shaking hands

it is also the same reason american indians used to raise their right hands in greeting

when they said hi (can't spell the indian word right now sorry)
Reply #554 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Germs are on your body right at this moment, there isnt one millimeter of your body not covered in some other organism. So when you touch anything your transfering germs. While your mouth is actually one of the cleanest places in your body because of spit.
Reply #555 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
ok the reason for shaking hands or raising it in greeting is to prove that you are not armed

the reason it is the right hand is becouse most people are right handed
Reply #556 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
ok here it is the final statement against the climit change being coused only by man


the earth has been around for 4.5 billion years

our culture has been around 10,000 years

climit change has been going on for 4.5 billion years

now how did we make climit change start 4.5 billion years ago
Reply #557 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Climate change has always happened, but it has done so over the period of thousands and hundreds of years. Right now it has happened in a few decades. Either these changes have been already in progress and have just started to peak. Or we have actually done something to whack the planet out of balance.

I think it is the second one, because we have recorded things for the past 200 years, and only now have we seen major changes.
Reply #558 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
and according to non government scientists it can also take place in decades

the man on a national geogriphic program says that he has documented that the temp in greenland can change 10 to 15 degrees in a decade


he also said that what we consider to be normal weather on earth ie the calm weather that we have experenced in the last 10,000 years is the abnormal not the normal for earth


he got these figures from ice cores in greenland
Reply #559 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
science evolution has taken place on the earth since life started but they are surprised to see it happening today


reliogen

god sent prophets to the world during the anceit history but god doesnt send prophets today


in this aspect they both sound the same don't they
Reply #560 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Germs are on your body right at this moment, there isnt one millimeter of your body not covered in some other organism. So when you touch anything your transfering germs. While your mouth is actually one of the cleanest places in your body because of spit.



Yes and germs are in the air and all around getting spread everytime the wind blows, you walk past or even on objects you move from A to B. When you touch somthing, you are not transfering germs in any kind of 'new' way that isn't already happening all around anyway. This is what makes your point irrelevant. Also the germs you touch do not typically interact with your immune system, not unless you touch your eyes or mouth or have a wound or some other skin weakness.

As for your mouth being one of the cleanest places in your body... i dunno who told you that but it is totally wrong. The mouth is actually full of bacteria and that is a scientific fact beyond dispute.
Reply #561 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The mouth is actually full of bacteria and that is a scientific fact beyond dispute.


Indeed.

It's this notion of a "fact beyond dispute" that separates folks (lay or pro) who are serious about science from folks who want to claim that science is "just like" religion.

I believe that scientific research is inevitably influenced by subjective factors, including the irrational aspects of a given scientific practitioner's belief system. But, I also believe that the scientific method is able to filter out such factors over time because it is based on the principle of defining hypotheses that others can repeatably test on their own.
Reply #562 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's this notion of a "fact beyond dispute" that separates folks (lay or pro) who are serious about science from folks who want to claim that science is "just like" religion.


I think i understand your point.... your saying people tend to have too much faith in their own knowledge rite?

Absolutely agree, and yes i would rarely use such wording as a 'fact beyond dispute'. I probably use that wording as often as i would say "i bet you a million dollars".
Reply #563 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I meant 'clean' as a place holding little hostile or harmful germs. Most of the bacteria in our digestive system are their to help with digestion. So i wouldnt be surprised if a large number of them are in our mouths.

And when I meant the transfer of bacteria, I actually meant those harmful to us.

I think a lot of people state things based on a few facts and then their own pure speculation. Even true information is always bent to fit what a person is trying to prove by saying it.
Reply #564 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i think that the scariest person is the one who says that they have nothing left to learn
Reply #565 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The scariest person is the one who follows what others say blindly.

And thats half of the world population, in my opinion.
Reply #566 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I meant 'clean' as a place holding little hostile or harmful germs


not compared to any other part of the body, including the skin!

If there were harmful germs on your skin they would need moisture to become active... your mouth!

Even if i saw somebody walk out of a bathroom just after thouroughly brushing their teeth and using 'Listerine', i still woulnd't agree with your comment.

I think a lot of people state things based on a few facts and then their own pure speculation. Even true information is always bent to fit what a person is trying to prove by saying it.


There is nothing wrong with speculation, as long as it is combined with an open minded attitude.

As far as bending true information,,, best left to politicians and lawyers!

Reply #567 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
there is your truth and my truth and the real truth

and when you have three agree everyone is happy maybe
Reply #568 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The only real truth is 'truthiness'   
Reply #569 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
that doesn't change or modify my point does it
Reply #570 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The only real truth is 'truthiness'


Superstantial evidence doesn't count
Reply #571 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But its from my gut, that has to count for something   

Anyways, people see truth in their own way. Its like playing telephone. If your not really sure what you heard, then your mind ussually fills in in with something that you would trust as right or believable.

Plus with so many opinions on truth, its hard to tell which person is really right. I mean do we expect this speculation just because it sounds closer to what I believe, or do I try and keep a moral code of conduct and take what someone is saying word for word.

Plus, in my opinion truth is a fickle friend. A double edged sword. It can win and arguement, as well as help you lose it.
Reply #572 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Plus, in my opinion truth is a fickle friend. A double edged sword. It can win and arguement, as well as help you lose it.


You're presuming that the object of an argument is to win, when in fact the object is to shed truth on the subject.
Reply #573 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What defines truth as being truth are actions/being applied, put into practice, physical descoveries.

So for example, if i say i'm a better tennis player than you, we can put that to the test and see the result.

Of course the 'luck' and 'chance' elements can distort the truth.... circumstances developing that manage to create a 'false' truth. i guess that would apply to everything in life?

Reply #574 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
there is your truth and my truth and the real truth

and when you have three agree everyone is happy maybe



and again there is your truth and my truth and the real truth

do you guys watch any of the csi's on tv

in that case they are trying to let the evidence tell them the truth

on one show a girl's death is total accident but the parents wouldn't except the real truth
Reply #575 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So for example, if i say i'm a better tennis player than you, we can put that to the test and see the result.

Of course the 'luck' and 'chance' elements can distort the truth.... circumstances developing that manage to create a 'false' truth. i guess that would apply to everything in life?



chance can be taken out of it by playing 100 games