I'm just going over what you've already claimed. That's all.

Boy, you really don't understand "literal", huh?

I have no problem if Jill asks stupid questions. The same way I have no problem if someone forces Jill to ask stupid questions.

Do you believe that that is an answer to the question I asked? I don't. Let me ask again...

Do you believe that you're not demanding inference upon Joe's part, or specifying a nonsensical meaning upon Jill's?

Did I ask you if you had a problem with stupid questions? Did I ask you if you had a problem if someone forces Jill to ask stupid questions? Does the common meaning of "Are you alone?" make it a stupid question, or does an interpretation which forces Joe to count Jill make it a stupid question?

OK, this is getting redundant...


The first question is nonsensical and I refuse to answer it. The second question is not me specifying anything, it's your question, not mine. The nonsense is from your mind, not mine.

So, it is clearly implied that you believe honest people exist, or the it would not be possible to meet one. That being said, do you realize what it would take for your statement to be true? I'll ask again. For the purpose of charity alone, I'll qualify the question this time around...

Given the fact that you have no knowledge whatsoever concerning the people I've met, do you believe that bushido and I have never met an honest person?

I'm sorry, can you ask the question again?

I wanna make you type stuff redundantly so we all get a a whole lotta nonsense in triplicate.


You're amusing, yet boring.

Present your case and think real hard on the definition of literal.

Not looking good Pan. Answer the question. I'll qualify it this time...


Regarding your claim about what Joe's honest answer should be, do you believe that you're not demanding inference upon Joe's part, or specifying a nonsensical meaning upon Jill's?

Given the fact that you have no knowledge whatsoever concerning the people I've met, do you believe that bushido and I have never met an honest person?

Ask again.

What more need be said?

The honesty of testimony is solely determined by whether or not the speaker believes what they're saying. An honest answer to a question is determined by what the listener thinks that the speaker is asking for, in addition to whether or not the listener offers an answer that they believe captures that.

For one, because you don't know the definition of literal you ask stupid questions.

For another, you ask reduntant questions now to prove that you were justified in your beliefs earlier.


When you know the meaning of literal, you'll know the reason why I refuse to answer your silly question.


It's hilarious that that one question proves that you do NOT know the meaning of literal.

What needed to be proven has been - many times over - regardless of whether or not you see it, recognize it, or admit it.

And claiming such does not make it true, it just makes you a liar.

I rest my case.



Now you can pull your pants up.

Just for good measure on behalf of my friend bushido, a little exclamation mark...

Sorry, but my time is extremely limited so a quick scan of this long thread may not have been very thorough, so I have questions:

Must we equate a lie with truth?

Would a lie simply be something other than ones actual perception of a situation for example:

Do you like my new hair style? Perhaps my perception is that the cut is not becoming to the person's physical charateristics however, that is my perception because I happen to like long hair not short, and I don't like long bangs with shor hair.

But others have told the person she looks great and I don't want to hurt her feelings, and I know that eventually she will change her hair again - so I answer in a positive manner - I like the color and it will be a lot cooler in the summer.

Did I lie?

On the other hand if asked a question or when giving information, I withhold something I know or if I simply state what I 'believe' to be true and it's not - is it a lie?

I guess the big question to me is - are lies always an attempt to deceive or misdirect and if not are they really lies?

Are lies only lies when the truth is known and not related completely?

Hey Di.



You're not missing much...

It is my contention that the honesty of testimony is solely determined by whether or not the speaker believes what they're saying. An honest answer to a question is determined by what the listener thinks that the speaker is asking for, in addition to whether or not the listener offers an answer that they believe captures that.