3 ms·

Then I don't understand your use of quotes. Putting scare quotes only makes sense if you think he meant more likely than not, since otherwise he's just saying

Then I don't understand your use of quotes. Putting scare quotes only makes sense if you think he meant more likely than not, since otherwise he's just saying that whatever probability it is needs consideration (if you're in that situation). Which seems utterly reasonable.

tptacek 13y ago
Those weren't scare quotes. We're discussing the meaning of a word, and he's simply calling out the word itself as the subject of his sentence.
- randallsquared 13y ago
  No, before that: """ > Considering the probability that people reported to law enforcement agencies will be killed as a result I'd love to see a citation for this "probability." """ Those quotes are not about the meaning of the word. They were the reason I assumed he was misunderstanding the (likely, in my opinion) use of the word "probability". (These quotes are about the meaning of the word... :) )
tedunangst 13y ago
If you like scare quotes, your use of "consideration" seems to be in line with the popular internet definition meaning "agreement with me". :) Maybe rayiner considered it, and considers it unlikely. Does he need to keep considering it until he changes his mind?
- randallsquared 13y ago
  "Does he need to keep considering it until he changes his mind?" I don't understand where you think I said anything of the sort; I meant only that by using those quotes, rayiner seemed to have taken the original commenter to which he replied to mean it was more probable than not. Apparently other people also believe that it was meant that way, so perhaps I'm completely wrong about how it was meant. Except that rayiner then suggested he took the word the same way I did, and just wanted the original commenter's citation of a probability figure that wasn't offered in the first place, which means I have no idea what he was suggesting by putting it in quotes. Clearly I'm failing badly at communicating what I mean and understanding others. :/
  - tedunangst 13y ago
    I interpreted the quotes to call out the probability as extremely small. As in, not probable.

tptacek 13y ago

Those weren't scare quotes. We're discussing the meaning of a word, and he's simply calling out the word itself as the subject of his sentence.

randallsquared 13y ago
No, before that: """ > Considering the probability that people reported to law enforcement agencies will be killed as a result I'd love to see a citation for this "probability." """ Those quotes are not about the meaning of the word. They were the reason I assumed he was misunderstanding the (likely, in my opinion) use of the word "probability". (These quotes are about the meaning of the word... :) )

tedunangst 13y ago

If you like scare quotes, your use of "consideration" seems to be in line with the popular internet definition meaning "agreement with me". :) Maybe rayiner considered it, and considers it unlikely. Does he need to keep considering it until he changes his mind?

randallsquared 13y ago
"Does he need to keep considering it until he changes his mind?" I don't understand where you think I said anything of the sort; I meant only that by using those quotes, rayiner seemed to have taken the original commenter to which he replied to mean it was more probable than not. Apparently other people also believe that it was meant that way, so perhaps I'm completely wrong about how it was meant. Except that rayiner then suggested he took the word the same way I did, and just wanted the original commenter's citation of a probability figure that wasn't offered in the first place, which means I have no idea what he was suggesting by putting it in quotes. Clearly I'm failing badly at communicating what I mean and understanding others. :/
- tedunangst 13y ago
  I interpreted the quotes to call out the probability as extremely small. As in, not probable.