Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) The Argumentative Git thread

I can only say that I don't like the topic, since I don't get the topic. So I go for a change of topic.

Übereil

To recite aphorisms, or not to recite aphorisms--that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous aphorisms
Or to take arms against a sea of aphorisms
And by opposing end them. To die, to recite aphorisms
No more--and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to recite aphorisms
To recite aphorisms --perchance not to: ay, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death what aphorisms may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would recite aphorisms against the whips and scorns of time,
Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after aphorisms,
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those aphorisms we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprise of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry
And lose the name of action. -- Soft you now,
The fair Ophelia! -- Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my aphorisms remembered.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is an aphorism,
The answer is an aphorism.

Heh, good ol' Cleglaw.


In the salt vrs salt...please example, I really think that 'salt' can not be used at all. You don't get the meaning across at all, there is only the noun, no verb. For all I know you want me to hit you with the salt, through the salt away, eat all the salt, or just agknowledge that there is indeed salt.

There are 4 choices: communism, socialism, capitalism, or aphorism.

do you mean that context is not enough for reducing the ambiguities and that only grammar rules can do that, lews?

@ Cleglaw

Wrong topic.
Have a look at "My favourite lyrics".

Barta

This is the topic. Carefully read the last 2 lines. Note that you don't have to read between the lines.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is an aphorism,
The answer is an aphorism.


Are devotees of the aphorism known as aphids?

Definition from Wikipedia: An aphorism is a wise saying that bears repetition - related to proverb, saying.

So, in your case, I don't see "salt" as an aphorism (we call shortened sentences ellipses in German grammar) - but in general: Yes, I like them, specially if I can't grasp their meaning at once and have to think - or if I see various ways of interpretation... or if I have to laugh at Cleglaw's Hamlet or Bob Dylan Cleglaw's aphorism. Sometimes aphorisms hit the nail on the spot in a laconic, witty, sardonic, simple etc. way - much shorter than the way I can write to explain my views.

@Cleg, please, show me more of your assortion of Clegorisms <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />
Kiya



Definitely, Cleg <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> - aphorism lovers are aphids: an annoyance to the gardeners of speech <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

I'm screwed... (What is pepole talking about??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />)

Übereil

Aphorisms, Übereil... We're talking about aphorisms. An aphorism is an aphorism is an aphorism.
Kiyarism <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" />

I think I'm too young for this topic, which once again proves it: Lews ISN'T 14 years old!

Übereil

correction; lews is 14 years-old. with 14 year-old body & the mind - yes, the mind is beyond that of a typical 14 year-old. it is a relief - no, joyous to see wisdom in one so young.

from Cambridge Dictionary
aphorism;
a short clever saying which is intended to express a general truth:
Oscar Wilde was famous for such aphorisms as 'Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes'.

from Merriam-Webster Dictionary
aphorism;
1 : a concise statement of a principle
2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment; adage

what Britannica says
aphorism;

Terse formulation of any generally accepted truth or sentiment conveyed in a pithy, memorable statement.

The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, a long series of propositions concerning disease and the art of healing. Aphorisms were used especially in dealing with subjects for which principles and methodology developed relatively late, including art, agriculture, medicine, jurisprudence, and politics, but in the modern era they have usually been vehicles of wit and pithy wisdom. Celebrated modern aphorists include Friedrich Nietzsche and Oscar Wilde.

not going to argue yet as i'm not too sure about the nature of aphorism.

woops you're absolutly right kiya... i was not clear enough and there is 2 related problems and not one (so "salt" is an example but not an example of aphorism)

reformulating:
aphorisms and short sentences... are they meaningless? Or are they a way to express something that can't be expressed otherwise? in the extrem case of minimal oral communication: "salt" and "give me the salt please?"... are these two expressions equivalent? and why or why not?


actually i don't change the topic as i've absolutly enjoyed cleg's warped quotations...

The following is an excerpt from a BBC article.

Exhibition Football Game Disrupted by Aphorism, Thousands Riot
An allstar exhibition football game, Europe vs. Africa, came to a complete halt after thousands of fans broke out into an utter riot. The riot was provoked when a British referee made a call which was disputedly an aphorism.

When a goal was scored by the African forward from Nigeria, Uwanna Recitum,the referee reportedly pointed to the captain of the European team and said, "You're up." The score at the time was 1-0 in favor of Africa. An African official immediately objected and stated that since Europe was losing, the referee should have said, "You're down." The British referee immediately countered by saying that what he meant was that it was now Europe's turn to take possession of the ball. Apparently the now embarrassed African official retorted in reply, "You should have said Europe down."

The fans were bewildered by the delay and disagreement. Rumors circulated in the crowd as to exactly what the argument was all about and precisely what was said. According to eyewitness reports there was confusion over whether it was "You're up" or "Europe" and "Europe down" or "You're up, down." The captain of the African team, a burly South African, exploded and said, "Well that's a bloody aphorism for you!" At this point, the riot erupted when a German fan, allegedly a librarian, shouted out, "That's not an aphorism!"

Witnesses state that British hooligans then began what turned into a full scale riot, shouting "Europe up! Bloody aphorism! Bloody hell!"

"I didn't start no riot. And what the man say was, "Europe, you're up."
Uwanna Recitum


For the information of all forum members, I am simply passing along information as I receive it. When Uwanna sent me this message I felt obliged to post it in this thread since I had already posted the original story. Some of you may wonder what this has to do with an argument about aphorisms. My take on it is that the riot started because of an argument about aphorisms which is enough to make it relevant to our present discussion.

"Actually I didn't say anything. I merely pointed at Dewey, the captain of the European team to indicate the ball was now his. This whole aphorism thing has gotten out of hand. And those bloody hooligans should never have been admitted to the game. They're always trouble!"
Howie Dewitt, British soccer referee


Folks, I just got this response in my email and I'm passing it along to you. Its a good thing too, because currently there's not much else going on in this thread.

"Nocando Nocando Nocando Nocando Nocando Nocando Nocando Aphorism Nocando"


Anonymous email

Well I never should have written in my last post that there wasn't enough activity in this thread, because I immediately received the above anonymous email. I did manage to trace down the ISP where it originated and that was in Liverpool. This guy sure doesn't like aphorisms does he?

about the part with the german fan who's also a librarian ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

short sentence is only useful & effective with gestures or body language. i think. & aphorism is more of a universal sentence that reflects wisdom & therefore able to stand on its own.

Nope, it was an aphid <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Kiya