I understand your reasoning. And you're right. I also agree it
isn't a paradox, and it
is a matter of semantics.
The part where we disagree is that I consider the question as one question, and you as two questions, right?
I agree that the conditional part in the question, provides more information than a basic yes or no question. But, if we don't consider the people who're bound by rules when they answer it, and just look at the question itself: it still has only two possible answers: yes or no. You can't consider
no answer as an answer, despite the fact that we would learn from it.
Not an answer is not an answer. If not an answer were an answer, then it would be an answer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Two opposite things can't be the same at the same time. So, the question only has two possible answers: yes and no.
I'm not sure why I'm writing that, since it's not really to the point, but it sounds good, so I'll leave it there.
Now, why do I disagree that it is really two questions? Because I don't think that because
you can learn more from it than you can from an elementary yes/no question, that this means the question isn't still a yes/no question. The second part of the question, is entirely connected to the first part. They're only half questions if you'd ask them seperately (you could ask them seperately, but they wouldn't be the same questions then). One can't do without the other, they're one whole. You can tear them apart into two seperate questions, but you'd have to change the questions: then you're proving your point with different questions. You're saying they are two questions, but you prove it with other questions...
That's how I see it. Semantics, I suppose. I guess it's like taste. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />
The reasons why I posted that paradox:
- To show that a yes/no question is still a yes/no question, which only has two possible answers (yes and no), EVEN if the answer can't be given. But the fact that you can't answer it (or, in the riddle, that you learn more than yes or no), doesn't mean it's not a yes or no question anymore. But I realize that wasn't your point. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
- I wanted to post that paradox anyway <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
PS: I saw the part about glutton for punishment <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
At least it's a change from another Iraq discussion <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
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