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> It is literally the comparison you made. If only we had some other concept that could be used in common conversation. Something where people use words to dra
by bane 12y ago
> It is literally the comparison you made.
If only we had some other concept that could be used in common conversation. Something where people use words to draw concepts and ideas, using various language devices to create or drive home some desired concept. Some kind of concept around representation or metaphorical speech.
But alas, all we have to work with is literalism and pedantry. It makes conversation feel kind of limited and poor, fact checking every statement down to some measure of significant digits, or splitting hairs to show that a claim is correct, but not quite as correct as it could be, feels like not fun or entertaining conversation, but we have to work with what we have and I guess that's the way we're required to speak to one another.
I'm surprised we use words at all, Hacker News should really just allow for formatted tables of figures.
- maxerickson 12y agoI don't think it is obnoxious to call people out on statements that have 0 significant digits. Such a statement isn't "entertaining conversation", it's boring manipulation (it's boring because it is so flimsy).
- bane 12y agoOkay fine, let's do this. You seem to want to grind an ax with me on this and be an internet asshole. Your job now is to take the following omissions and come up with comparison down to the fractional cent. Because it's so important to you if I buy my asswipes at Walmart or Costco. 1) He literally showed that Costco was the cheaper option. 2) He failed to include savings from cash-back using an Amex 3) He failed to include savings from rebates, sales or other promotions 4) He failed to include savings from gas, vehicle wear and tear, from driving to another store to buy these ass wipes 5) He failed to account for the fractional wear and tear on shoes and clothing used for extra movement to the other store 6) He failed to account for caloric expenditure in the time spent going to Walmart to buy said toilet paper. What's the cost differential in buying a meal because I have to go to another store across town? 7) He failed to account for the cost of time-saved in not having to drive across town to buy this shit paper.
- maxerickson 12y agoAll I've been doing is explaining why I don't find hyperbole particularly interesting as a communication style. I don't think further back and forth on this is going to do anyone any good, sorry I came accross as an internet asshole.
- bane 12y agoMeh. It's fine. But it's not hyperbole if it's true. Just learn to live with different kinds of people a little eh?