5 ms·

Well, yes. The context is a person coming to you in an office, not a courtroom :)

jamesrcole 9y ago
well, as obstacle1 has explained below, then you're not actually talking about beliefs. (which was what the original discussion did concern). E.g. in some of these situations you are actually lying to the person (in a mild way) and not actually expressing a belief at all. An analogy. I might say "I went to the store", but actually I was at a friend's place, and I said this because I wanted to come across a certain way. It is not that the statement "I went to the store" has these two interpretations. The notion of going to a friend's place isn't a different interpretation of that statement, it is just that I'm not telling the truth.
- odonnellryan 9y ago
  I don't think that's accurate. I can believe you without being absolutely convicted that you're accurate or correct. I can believe your testimony to me in good faith, but understand it may not be accurate.
  - jamesrcole 9y ago
    > I can believe you without being absolutely convicted that you're accurate or correct. Of course - and that means you still think (to some degree of conviction) it is true. The original context that spawned this discussion was implying some sort of interpretation that did not involve a belief of some sort in the truth of the statement. > I can believe your testimony to me in good faith, but understand it may not be accurate. If someone says "X touched me inappropriately", and you respond "I believe you" then this response means "I believe your statement" not "I believe your testimony was in good faith". (Or it is a kind of white lie, as discussed elsewhere in this thread).
    - odonnellryan 9y ago
      > If someone says "X touched me inappropriately", and you respond "I believe you" then this response means "I believe your statement" not "I believe your testimony was in good faith". That's true, but this is literally how 99% of human interaction works out. My dad might say "Hey, can you help me with something on the house in two weeks?" and I don't even know what day yet, so I'll say "Of course, would love to!" It's... not a 100% completely honest response, but it's the polite one. Rather than saying "I have no idea because I lack information, please tell me the date and I'll get back to you." In reality, I say sure, I commit, and as more information is acquired we adjust the situation: just as would happen in the original scenario. White lie or not, it would be inappropriate and needlessly damaging to reply to your colleague in such a way "I have no idea if what you're saying is true, sorry, but I'll look into it."
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]

well, as obstacle1 has explained below, then you're not actually talking about beliefs. (which was what the original discussion did concern). E.g. in some of these situations you are actually lying to the person (in a mild way) and not actually expressing a belief at all. An analogy. I might say "I went to the store", but actually I was at a friend's place, and I said this because I wanted to come across a certain way. It is not that the statement "I went to the store" has these two interpretations. The notion of going to a friend's place isn't a different interpretation of that statement, it is just that I'm not telling the truth.

odonnellryan 9y ago
I don't think that's accurate. I can believe you without being absolutely convicted that you're accurate or correct. I can believe your testimony to me in good faith, but understand it may not be accurate.
- jamesrcole 9y ago
  > I can believe you without being absolutely convicted that you're accurate or correct. Of course - and that means you still think (to some degree of conviction) it is true. The original context that spawned this discussion was implying some sort of interpretation that did not involve a belief of some sort in the truth of the statement. > I can believe your testimony to me in good faith, but understand it may not be accurate. If someone says "X touched me inappropriately", and you respond "I believe you" then this response means "I believe your statement" not "I believe your testimony was in good faith". (Or it is a kind of white lie, as discussed elsewhere in this thread).
  - odonnellryan 9y ago
    > If someone says "X touched me inappropriately", and you respond "I believe you" then this response means "I believe your statement" not "I believe your testimony was in good faith". That's true, but this is literally how 99% of human interaction works out. My dad might say "Hey, can you help me with something on the house in two weeks?" and I don't even know what day yet, so I'll say "Of course, would love to!" It's... not a 100% completely honest response, but it's the polite one. Rather than saying "I have no idea because I lack information, please tell me the date and I'll get back to you." In reality, I say sure, I commit, and as more information is acquired we adjust the situation: just as would happen in the original scenario. White lie or not, it would be inappropriate and needlessly damaging to reply to your colleague in such a way "I have no idea if what you're saying is true, sorry, but I'll look into it."
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]