Re: Smiley Faces!

[PPARKER@TWSUVM.UC.TWSU.EDU]

> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 10:01:24 -0600
> From: "Dewey Dykstra, Jr." <dykstrad@bsumail.idbsu.edu>
>
> David Dockstader says:
>
> > I think Doug has a good analogy with wt given in kg.  If enough people use
> > terminology loosly, it becomes part of the language and all precision in
> > language is lost.
>
> Logically a sad state of affairs, but the logic depends on the assumptions.
> Is it the case that such "precision in language" actually exists in human
> culture and does it really make sense that it could?

Actually it's more like this: occasionally some precision in language does
manage to exist; but the existence is brief because it is promptly
destroyed.  Most human culture is antithetical to precision.

---------------------------------------------
Phil Parker        pparker@twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu
Random quote for this second:
  How pleasant it is to have money.---Arthur Hugh Clough