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- Hey, I have this idea where xyz... - That's stupid It's clearly talking about the idea. No one says "That's X" when referring to someone. When someone shows

- Hey, I have this idea where xyz... - That's stupid It's clearly talking about the idea. No one says "That's X" when referring to someone. When someone shows me a painting and I say "That's beautiful", I'm obviously referring to the painting, right?

SavantIdiot 5y ago
No. It is not obvious. That's the whole point of this discussion.
- leephillips 5y ago
  It’s not obvious? So there is a chance “that’s beautiful” means that the person showing him the painting is beautiful? I’m mystified.
  - rspeele 5y ago
    > So there is a chance “that’s beautiful” means that the person showing him the painting is beautiful? No, but I think the choice of adjective is important. Suppose instead of saying "That's a beautiful painting" I said "That's a masterful painting". The sentence structure is the same. The adjective is still modifying "painting". I'm still saying the painting is good. But the word I chose more directly implies a judgement of the artist: I am describing the painting as the product of a master painter. I get the same impression from hearing "stupid idea". Stupid is a description of intelligence, thinking ability, aptitude: attributes which lie with the idea's originator, not with the idea itself.
    - FalconSensei 5y ago
      You wouldn't say "that's a stupid person" unless you were talking about a 3rd person
- DiggyJohnson 5y ago
  How is that not obvious? Do you hold that position?
seoaeu 5y ago
If you show someone a painting you made and they tell you "That's beautiful", you may reasonably conclude that they think you're a good painter. Similarly, if you come up with an idea and someone tells you it's stupid, you might conclude (especially if it's a recurring pattern) that they don't think you are very smart. If that is not the conclusion they wanted you to come to, it is on them for not communicating better
- Eelongate 5y ago
  Saying that a particular painting is good does not imply that everything that person has painted is good. Saying that a particular painting is bad does not imply that everything that person has painted is bad.

SavantIdiot 5y ago

No. It is not obvious. That's the whole point of this discussion.

leephillips 5y ago
It’s not obvious? So there is a chance “that’s beautiful” means that the person showing him the painting is beautiful? I’m mystified.
- rspeele 5y ago
  > So there is a chance “that’s beautiful” means that the person showing him the painting is beautiful? No, but I think the choice of adjective is important. Suppose instead of saying "That's a beautiful painting" I said "That's a masterful painting". The sentence structure is the same. The adjective is still modifying "painting". I'm still saying the painting is good. But the word I chose more directly implies a judgement of the artist: I am describing the painting as the product of a master painter. I get the same impression from hearing "stupid idea". Stupid is a description of intelligence, thinking ability, aptitude: attributes which lie with the idea's originator, not with the idea itself.
  - FalconSensei 5y ago
    You wouldn't say "that's a stupid person" unless you were talking about a 3rd person
DiggyJohnson 5y ago
How is that not obvious? Do you hold that position?

seoaeu 5y ago

If you show someone a painting you made and they tell you "That's beautiful", you may reasonably conclude that they think you're a good painter. Similarly, if you come up with an idea and someone tells you it's stupid, you might conclude (especially if it's a recurring pattern) that they don't think you are very smart. If that is not the conclusion they wanted you to come to, it is on them for not communicating better

Eelongate 5y ago
Saying that a particular painting is good does not imply that everything that person has painted is good. Saying that a particular painting is bad does not imply that everything that person has painted is bad.