Musings on Nasa and the Concept of Truth.

"Barbara's Cat" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 10:03:51 -0400
Jonathan said:


"Barbara's Cat" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 7 Aug 2004 00:50:15 -0400
Jonathan said:

[ snip ]

I'm certain 99.86% of Nasa [snip]

Seventy percent of this country [snip]

Where in hell do you get all these numbers from?


The first one is from an ivory soap commercial from years ago.

Then you should have said "99.44%" or "99 and 44/100%".

The second is certainly open to argument. I heard it on CNN
during a discussion of religion in this election. I didn't look
into it further then, but it appears 50% is a better number.
http://www.spiritrestoration.org/Chu...mographics.htm

But the original point that 'born-again' is a dominant belief system remains true.

Or do you just make them up as you go along.

I don't believe in exact numbers, only approximations.

Then, operating on that belief, you'll believe anything.

Jonathan

s

Summary: If you are willing to believe anything,
how can "we" believe anything you say is "fact"?


Well...if I don't believe in exact numbers the same is
true for facts. Politics, the subject of this thread, is
difficult to chart and graph. Rhetoric...arguing...trying
to convince is the best one can do.








--
Cm~

On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:41:52 -0400
Jonathan said:

"Barbara's Cat" wrote in message
...

On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 10:03:51 -0400
Jonathan said:

"Barbara's Cat" wrote in message
...

On Sat, 7 Aug 2004 00:50:15 -0400
Jonathan said:

[ snip ]

I'm certain 99.86% of Nasa [snip]

Seventy percent of this country [snip]

Where in hell do you get all these numbers from?

The first one is from an ivory soap commercial from years ago.

Then you should have said "99.44%" or "99 and 44/100%".

The second is certainly open to argument. I heard it on CNN
during a discussion of religion in this election. I didn't look
into it further then, but it appears 50% is a better number.
http://www.spiritrestoration.org/Chu...mographics.htm

But the original point that 'born-again' is a dominant belief system remains true.

Or do you just make them up as you go along.

I don't believe in exact numbers, only approximations.

Then, operating on that belief, you'll believe anything.

Jonathan

s

Summary: If you are willing to believe anything,
how can "we" believe anything you say is "fact"?

Well...if I don't believe in exact numbers the same is
true for facts. Politics, the subject of this thread, is
difficult to chart and graph. Rhetoric...arguing...trying
to convince is the best one can do.

By spewing numbers pulled out of nowhere?
By spouting falsified information as fact?
Around my neighborhood we call that lying.
And yes, talking politics is talking lies.

My question now is: "Why are 'YOU' lying?"

Are you a politician (i.e. a liar)?

--
Cm~

On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:41:52 -0400, "Jonathan"
wrote:

Well...if I don't believe in exact numbers the same is
true for facts. Politics, the subject of this thread, is
difficult to chart and graph. Rhetoric...arguing...trying
to convince is the best one can do.

My friend if you do not understand the exact meaning of numbers, you
should not play with them. Numbers are one of a very few exact
abstract concepts; even estimates, interpolations and extrapolations
can be stated with exactness. Probabilities and statistics are exact.
Irrational and Imaginary numbers also have exact meanings. Mathematics
is an abstract exactly defined science.

On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 23:31:54 -0400, Barbara's Cat
wrote:

By spewing numbers pulled out of nowhere?
By spouting falsified information as fact?
Around my neighborhood we call that lying.
And yes, talking politics is talking lies.

My question now is: "Why are 'YOU' lying?"

Are you a politician (i.e. a liar)?

Cm~

That is a fact best exemplified by Algore's contention that he had the
most votes in Florida when every recount showed that he had clearly
lost.

"vonroach" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:41:52 -0400, "Jonathan"
wrote:

Well...if I don't believe in exact numbers the same is
true for facts. Politics, the subject of this thread, is
difficult to chart and graph. Rhetoric...arguing...trying
to convince is the best one can do.

My friend if you do not understand the exact meaning of numbers, you
should not play with them. Numbers are one of a very few exact
abstract concepts; even estimates, interpolations and extrapolations
can be stated with exactness. Probabilities and statistics are exact.
Irrational and Imaginary numbers also have exact meanings. Mathematics
is an abstract exactly defined science.


Yes of course, but I'm talking about the real world. Nothing is
exact in Nature. Mathematics is only self-consistent, not consistent
with reality. It's trying to make Nature exact that is the heart
of our ignorance and suffering.