Max Wanadoo
max.wanadoo at gmail.com
Mon Mar 30 06:50:46 CDT 2009
Stuart, >"Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves"" You'll be working on the "sense" then - I can see why you need to <g> I reject and refute all and everyone of your arguments. But I would die for your right to make them (not literally, just metaphorically you understand). Here's Why: When I look at something through my (normal) eyes (and please do not quibble about what is normal). I see colours all the way from black through to white. Therefore to me, everything has a colour whether it is in the spectrum of visible light or not - it is what I see. That is my interpretation of it and I would die for my right to say so (not metaphorically, but literally you understand). Pistols at dawn it is then! Null modems are not the absence. In this context it means "no modulation, no modem" but the word is used loosely, but that is ok with the World up until now. There cannot be a null physical item but there can be an absence of a physical item. But the term null modem is quite acceptable because we all have a recognition of what the terms mean (or most of us do). Man's is a noun whether possessive or otherwise. It is still a noun acting as an adjective. Which again is quite ok, 'cos we have a recognition of what it means in this context. Anyway, this is interrupting my beauty sleep and I need it urgently! Don't want to end up looking like someone from "down under" - ha! Max Ps. I assume your bored and in the club having a tipple or three? -----Original Message----- From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Stuart McLachlan Sent: 30 March 2009 12:07 To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving Subject: Re: [AccessD] An Interesting question See responses in line (top posting is not good for commenting on multiple points) On 30 Mar 2009 at 10:54, Max Wanadoo wrote: > Hi Guys, > Things are what you want them to be within the context you are using them. > QED there is no absolute definition of any word. No, they are what they are accepted to be within the culture of the group using them. Without cultural agreement about the meaning of words, there can be no communication. In the culture of SQL and relational database developers Null means the absence of a value. > EG. Usage of Nouns as Adjectives. EG He is a man's man. "man's" is a "possessive noun". A standard method of qualifying a noun with another noun. I fail to see how is relevant. > > Eg A null modem using for connecting two PCs together - clearly not an > absence of "something", merely a protocol. It is *absolutely* the absence of something - specifically the absence of the modems. It is a direct connection between two machines without any Modulation/Demodulation (Where does the name "modem" come from again?) > Eg. Colour - perception by the human eye and brain. > A specified colour may > present itself differently to a person who is "colour blind". A Colour is more than that. It is the culturally agreed name for the perception of specific wavelengths of radiation (light) Black is the absence of perceived radiation - no radiation or no perception - no colour! > Is yellow a > colour or an act of cowardice? Depends on the context. > Depends on whether you are being literal or metaphorical. We are not talking metaphorically here. > Are black and white colours? Ans: yes if you want them to be. No if you > don't want them to be or Null if you refuse to answer! > > A lot of these postings are just semantics. > i.e the study of meaning within communication. Without which there can be no effective communication. > >From Alice in the Looking Glass:- > "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means > what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less." "Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves"" (ibid) -- AccessD mailing list AccessD at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com