Hey, you haven't won yet <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
You're right: the facts aren't magically changed. But I believe you're still missing the influence the condition has on the question itself. Actually, it's more than a little difference: it has a huge impact. Let's go abstract <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/freak.gif" alt="" />
Suppose: A=T B=T C=L D=L
The facts are that A and B are the same. And D always lies. That is the reality. And you're right: these are facts. Can't change them.
Even if I ask "if A and B are different", in reality A and B are still the same. And D is still a liar.
True.
In this reality.
However: I'm asking "is A a truth-teller, supposing that A and B are different?". What does that condition change?
It doesn't change the fact that D knows, that in this reality A is a truth-teller.
But, A and B aren't different in this reality, so what I'm asking is if "A is a truth-teller"
in another reality:
a reality where A and B are different. A parallel universe if you want. And there is simply no way for D to know anything about that other reality: in that reality A could be a liar as well as a truth-teller.
Hence, if D says that
in that reality A is a liar, he's only
guessing: he could be wrong and he could be right.
However, it is stated that he ALWAYS lies, so
guessing is not allowed. He doesn't know anything about the "parallel universe" I'm asking about, so he can't lie about it.
That's the difference: if the condition isn't met, I'm not asking about the actual situation anymore. This reality has nothing to do with my question.
Speaking of which, lets say A and B both tell the truth, but A is a male 250lb football player and B is a female 90lb office manager. Now you ask D 'If A and B are different...' .....
It was stated that in my answer to this riddle, "the same" means both liars or both truth-tellers. Similar for "different" - read the answer to the riddle again, cause I'm sensing a flaw in your argumentation <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
The reason you didn't realize you were being teased is because you are still in a delusional state believing you are right about the riddle.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />
I guess in some other reality, you've proven me wrong, but not in this one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
[edit]Little typo and flaw in my own argumentation. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />Whew <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" />
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