even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
Lemming on
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jefe414"My Other Drill Hole is a Teleporter"Mechagodzilla is Best GodzillaRegistered Userregular
edited December 2008
Those are nothing. You should see the crabs in my pants. It's like they are haunted.
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
it's like dru has taken the thing about qualifying absolutes, 'very impossible', 'quite impossible', etc. and over-generalised it to include 'nearly impossible'
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
so explain to me how one can be almost pregnant
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
so explain to me how one can be almost pregnant
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
something either has 100 legs or it does not
but something with 99 legs could be described as having 'almost 100 legs'
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
so explain to me how one can be almost pregnant
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
something either has 100 legs or it does not
but something with 99 legs could be described as having 'almost 100 legs'
so you're saying whether or not something is possible is a matter of quantity? you're comparing apples and oranges
again, explain how someone can be almost pregnant
impossible falls in the same vein
there is no almost, either it's impossible or it's not
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
so explain to me how one can be almost pregnant
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
something either has 100 legs or it does not
but something with 99 legs could be described as having 'almost 100 legs'
so you're saying whether or not something is possible is a matter of quantity? you're comparing apples and oranges
again, explain how someone can be almost pregnant
impossible falls in the same vein
there is no almost, either it's impossible or it's not
i would describe something that is very, very unlikely as being 'almost impossible', yes
and people would only have a problem with that if they were a butt, yes
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
so explain to me how one can be almost pregnant
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
While it's true that something is strictly either possible or impossible, something can be possible while being so mind blowingly unlikely that it is close to being impossible, or almost impossible. It's like if a guy tried to run a mile, but only went .999 miles. In the strict sense of whether he did run one mile or not, he did not run a mile, but saying he almost ran a mile is meaningful, in that it helps describe how far he did run. Saying he almost ran a mile is a reasonable statement even though he didn't actually run the mile.
The point of this is that the "almost" qualifier, in this sense, means that while it is not actually impossible, it is close to being impossible.
Also, your argument is flawed. While some situations are binary, not all are.
even just saying something is almost impossible makes no damn sense
it's like saying someone is almost pregnant
you either are or you aren't
something is either possible or not, there is no fuzzy area except from our ignorance
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's not almost impossible
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
so explain to me how one can be almost pregnant
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
something either has 100 legs or it does not
but something with 99 legs could be described as having 'almost 100 legs'
so you're saying whether or not something is possible is a matter of quantity? you're comparing apples and oranges
again, explain how someone can be almost pregnant
impossible falls in the same vein
there is no almost, either it's impossible or it's not
i would describe something that is very, very unlikely as being 'almost impossible', yes
and people would only have a problem with that if they were a butt, yes
qed
I mean, if something is very, very difficult or unlikely, or only possible under extremely rare and specific conditions, it seems perfectly reasonable to call it "almost impossible".
CrossBuster on
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Golden YakBurnished BovineThe sunny beaches of CanadaRegistered Userregular
edited December 2008
What it all means, essentially, is that you can never kill a tortoise with a bow and arrow.
As soon as they close the door to the aircraft, that's when they begin the safety lecture. I love the safety lecture. This is my favorite part of the airplane ride. I listen very carefully to the safety lecture, especially that part where they teach us how to use the seat belts. Imagine this, here we are, a plane full of grown human beings, many of us partially educated, and they're actually taking time out to describe the intricate workings of a belt buckle.
"Place the small metal flap into the buckle." Well, I asked for clarification at that point. Over here please, over here, yes, thank you very much. Did I hear you correctly? Did you say place the small metal flap into the buckle or place the buckle over and around the small metal flap? I'm a simple man; I do not possess an engineering degree nor am I mechanically inclined. Sorry to have taken up so much of your time. Please continue with the wonderful safety lecture. Seatbelt--high-tech shit.
The safety lecture continues. "In the unlikely event . ." This is a very suspect phrase, especially coming as it does from an industry that is willing to lie about arrival and departure times. "In the unlikely event of a sudden change in cabin pressure"--ROOF FLIES OFF! " . . An oxygen mask will drop down in front of you. Place the mask over your face and breathe normally." Well, I have no problem with that. I always breathe normally when I'm in a 600 mile an hour uncontrolled vertical dive. I also shit normally.
They tell you to adjust YOUR oxygen mask before helping your child with his. I did not need to be told that. In fact, I'm probably going to be too busy screaming to help him at all. This will be a good time for him to learn self-reliance. If he can program his fucking VCR, he could goddamn, jolly-well learn to adjust an oxygen mask. Fairly simple thing, just a little rubber band in the back is all it is. Not nearly as complicated as say, for instance, a seatbelt.
The safety lecture continues. "In the unlikely event of a water landing . . ." Well, what exactly is a water landing? Am I mistaken, or does this sound somewhat similar to CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN!? ". . . your seat cushion can be used as a flotation device." Well, imagine that, my seat cushion... Just what I need -- to float around the North Atlantic for several days -- clinging to a pillow full of beer farts...
The next sentence I hear is full of things that piss me off. "Before leaving the aircraft, please check around your immediate seating area for any personal belongings you might have brought on-board." Well, let's start with immediate seating area--SEAT! It's a goddamn seat! Check around your seat! "For any personal belongings." Well, what other kinds of belongings are there, besides personal--public belongings? Do these people honestly think I might be traveling with a fountain I stole from the park. "You might have brought on-board." Well, I might have brought my arrowhead collection--I didn't, so I'm not going to look for it! I am going to look for things I brought on-board, which seems to enhance my likelihood of finding something, wouldn't you say?
About this time, they tell you you'll be landing shortly. That sound to you like we're gonna miss the runway. Final approach is not very promising either, is it? Final is not a good word to be using on an airplane. Sometimes, the pilot will get on and he'll say, "We'll be on the ground in 15 minutes." Well, that's a little vague, isn't it?
Now we're taxiing in, she says, "Welcome to O'Hare International Airport . . ." Well, how can someone who is just arriving herself possibly welcome me to a place she isn't even at yet? Doesn't this violate some fundamental law of physics? We're only on the ground for 4 seconds; she's coming on like the fucking mayor's wife! ". . . where the local time . ." Well, of course it's the local time. What did you think we were expecting -- the time in Pango Pango?
"Enjoy your stay in Chicago, or wherever your final destination might be." All destinations are final! That's what it means, destiny-final. If you haven't gotten where you're going, you aren't there yet.
"The captain has asked . . ." More shit from the bogus captain. You know, for someone who's supposed to be flying an airplane, he's taking a mighty big interest in what I'm doing back here.". . . that you remain seated until he has brought the aircraft to a complete stop. Not a partial stop, because during a partial stop, I partially get up. "Continue to observe the no-smoking sign until well inside the terminal." It's physically impossible to observe the no-smoking sign even if you're standing just outside the door of the airplane, much less well inside the terminal. You can't even see the fucking planes from well inside the terminal.
Which brings me to terminal--another unfortunate word to be used in association with air travel. And they use it all over the airport, don't they? Somehow I just can't get hungry at a place called the Terminal Snack bar. But, if you've ever eaten there, you know it IS an appropriate name.
misbehavin on
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Golden YakBurnished BovineThe sunny beaches of CanadaRegistered Userregular
If I hadn't started hanging out with a group of friends that got me into computers, I probably would have drifted aimlessly through college before failing out due to lack of motivation. After getting my life back together I probably would have become a marine biologist.
What it all means, essentially, is that you can never kill a tortoise with a bow and arrow.
What about a bow with explosive arrows?
You can do this, but you only get half as many points.
Well since I could never have killed it with a bow and arrow any other way, I guess I'll take 50 possible points over 100 impossible, hypothetical, or imaginary points.
CrossBuster on
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FandyienBut Otto, what about us? Registered Userregular
Posts
It does make sense, it's a description. Like saying it's almost impossible to survive falling out of an airplane. That means while it is possible, it's really, really difficult and unlikely.
that's improbable
there is a significant difference
and the pistol shrimp thing he was talking about can't even be described as improbable because it happens all the fucking time
and since i'm the king you all have to listen to me
Sea Spiders - Pycnogonids
I love being a Marine Biologist.
Ok, so the dictionary for impossible (from dictionary.com) is
1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.: an impossible assignment.
3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety: an impossible situation.
5. utterly impracticable: an impossible plan.
6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.
and the definition for almost is: very nearly; all but.
So if you put them together you can get a very reasonable statement that conveys some factors of a situation very well, so saying "surviving a fall out of a plane is almost impossible" basically means the same thing as "surviving a fall out of a plane is all but unable to be done," which is clearly a reasonable thing to say.
Maybe what the guy said about the thing was silly and maybe it wasn't, but saying that the phrase "almost impossible" doesn't make any sense is dumb.
stupid otter
You are bad at fractions.
something is either impossible or it's not
that simple
there is no almost impossible
something either has 100 legs or it does not
but something with 99 legs could be described as having 'almost 100 legs'
Preheat the oven.
Yeah, yeah, I've seen this bit before.
again, explain how someone can be almost pregnant
impossible falls in the same vein
there is no almost, either it's impossible or it's not
Fuck you, I'm getting IN the plane!
There seems to be less wind in here.
man this guy is crazy
common hairy crab
because everyone read that sentence and took 'very high temperature' from it
language served its purpose! stop arguing!
and people would only have a problem with that if they were a butt, yes
qed
"So, are we almost there?"
"NO. FUCK YOU. We are either there or we are not. We will be there when we get there, but we will never be almost there, idiot!"
I'm not sure what kind of point I'm trying to make.
While it's true that something is strictly either possible or impossible, something can be possible while being so mind blowingly unlikely that it is close to being impossible, or almost impossible. It's like if a guy tried to run a mile, but only went .999 miles. In the strict sense of whether he did run one mile or not, he did not run a mile, but saying he almost ran a mile is meaningful, in that it helps describe how far he did run. Saying he almost ran a mile is a reasonable statement even though he didn't actually run the mile.
The point of this is that the "almost" qualifier, in this sense, means that while it is not actually impossible, it is close to being impossible.
Also, your argument is flawed. While some situations are binary, not all are.
dru we can only sort this out by sleeping together
I mean, if something is very, very difficult or unlikely, or only possible under extremely rare and specific conditions, it seems perfectly reasonable to call it "almost impossible".
we're outta here
What about a bow with explosive arrows?
Killing a tortoise with a bow and arrow is almost impossible.
You can do this, but you only get half as many points.
That could have been pretty awesome.
Well since I could never have killed it with a bow and arrow any other way, I guess I'll take 50 possible points over 100 impossible, hypothetical, or imaginary points.
what the fuck is going on with that top one
that is the most hallucinogenic animal i have ever seen