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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 6 to 30 of 30. Go back in thread:
Posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 0:40:00
In reply to Re: poke...poke, posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 0:27:28
yeah I thought you did :-)
I dont like overuse of commas, it makes my brain sorta stop, but I also dont so much like to read flowing thougths
Posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 0:53:17
In reply to Re: poke...poke, posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 0:27:28
> I am lol
> Im hungry too
> but I have no foodno food?
are you stoned again?
Posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 0:54:09
In reply to wanna know something?, posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 0:40:00
> I dont like overuse of commas, it makes my brain sorta stop, but I also dont so much like to read flowing thougths
Hmm. i think the idea is to break the sentances down. change a comma to a full stop. well... tahts what my supervisor tells me at any rate...
;-)
Posted by wildcard on November 19, 2005, at 8:46:29
In reply to Re: poke...poke, posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 0:53:17
>no food?
>are you stoned again?
;-) hehe
Posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 10:18:49
In reply to Re: poke...poke, posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 0:53:17
> > I am lol
> > Im hungry too
> > but I have no food
>
> no food?
> are you stoned again?
>
>who me? ;-)
Posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 10:21:35
In reply to Re: wanna know something?, posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 0:54:09
sounds right
:-)
I was reading something tht was just comma after comma. how many is too many in a sentance? I wonder if there is a limit
Posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 10:21:57
In reply to Re: poke...poke, posted by wildcard on November 19, 2005, at 8:46:29
:-)
Posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 14:38:58
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » alexandra_k, posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 10:21:35
> I was reading something tht was just comma after comma. how many is too many in a sentance? I wonder if there is a limit.
Apparantly... According to the rules of formal syntax... No, there is no limit. (We limit it in practice for style and ease of comprehension apparantly). I remember being very worried about there not being a syntactic limit when I did my undergrad philosophy of language course... But apparantly with the 'no limit' thing on commas and joining sentances together with 'and' and your being allowed to string as many adjectives as you want together... Well it turns out that construed that way, language has a couple of funny properties...
Generativity - There are an indefinate number of meaningfully different sentances that you can generate from a finite number of words.
(Well... People argue whether it is an INDEFINITE amount or whether it is an INFINITE amount...)
And it follows from that one:
Novelty - There are always going to be novel sentances (that we have never encountered before) EVEN IF we never introduced any new words.And thus... Language acquisition and comprehension CANNOT be explained by the principles of behaviourism. Because... Of our ability to understand and generate novel sentances that we have never been reinforced for :-)
Posted by Phillipa on November 19, 2005, at 22:59:37
In reply to Re: poke...poke » wildcard, posted by rainbowbrite on November 19, 2005, at 10:21:57
Rainy did I just learn something about you? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Toph on November 19, 2005, at 23:15:18
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » rainbowbrite, posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 14:38:58
> > I was reading something tht was just comma after comma. how many is too many in a sentance? I wonder if there is a limit.
>
> Apparantly... According to the rules of formal syntax... No, there is no limit. (We limit it in practice for style and ease of comprehension apparantly). I remember being very worried about there not being a syntactic limit when I did my undergrad philosophy of language course... But apparantly with the 'no limit' thing on commas and joining sentances together with 'and' and your being allowed to string as many adjectives as you want together... Well it turns out that construed that way, language has a couple of funny properties...
>
> Generativity - There are an indefinate number of meaningfully different sentances that you can generate from a finite number of words.
> (Well... People argue whether it is an INDEFINITE amount or whether it is an INFINITE amount...)
> And it follows from that one:
> Novelty - There are always going to be novel sentances (that we have never encountered before) EVEN IF we never introduced any new words.
>
> And thus... Language acquisition and comprehension CANNOT be explained by the principles of behaviourism. Because... Of our ability to understand and generate novel sentances that we have never been reinforced for :-)
>
>
She's stoned alright.
Posted by alexandra_k on November 20, 2005, at 6:36:33
In reply to Re: wanna know something?, posted by Toph on November 19, 2005, at 23:15:18
> She's stoned alright.
lol. you know why i was worried???
it was the infinity thing...
but a sentance can't be infinitely long because my primary teacher told me that every sentance has to have a full stop ;-pbut...
'i have one kumquats'
'i have two kumquats'
'i have three kumquats...'
etc
there is an infinite number of meaningfully different sentances / thoughts just there ;-)wow...
infinity from a finite brain...
infinity from a fixed stock of words and a fixed number of rules for combining words into gramatically correct sentances...i do wonder...
whether the same just might be the case for babble rules...
at some level of description or other ;-)
Posted by rainbowbrite on November 20, 2005, at 8:33:49
In reply to Re: poke...poke » rainbowbrite, posted by Phillipa on November 19, 2005, at 22:59:37
:-)
That was cute Phillipa!!
Nah, not really. I got stoned with my friend and then she left some behind, so I did it agian, I was hoping I would have a creative moment while writing an essay.....BUT it had been so long since I had and will be so long till I do it again.
:-)
Posted by rainbowbrite on November 20, 2005, at 8:36:00
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » rainbowbrite, posted by alexandra_k on November 19, 2005, at 14:38:58
hehe that was very helpful! Im so excited to use a bunch of commas and no its ok ;-)
Posted by alexandra_k on November 20, 2005, at 15:24:31
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » alexandra_k, posted by rainbowbrite on November 20, 2005, at 8:36:00
> hehe that was very helpful! Im so excited to use a bunch of commas and no its ok ;-)
hmm...
syntatically - yes
stylistically - it it probably a crime ;-)
Posted by Toph on November 20, 2005, at 17:29:10
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » Toph, posted by alexandra_k on November 20, 2005, at 6:36:33
I love you alex... even if I can't understand you sometimes. Are you saying something about how language limits our otherwise infinite thoughts? How can I understand the meaning of life if I don't know what a kumquat is?
Posted by alexandra_k on November 20, 2005, at 18:30:31
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » alexandra_k, posted by Toph on November 20, 2005, at 17:29:10
> I love you alex...
Love ya too Toph :-)
> even if I can't understand you sometimes.
I need to get better at expressing myself :-(
>Are you saying something about how language limits our otherwise infinite thoughts?
No.
I'm talking about how finite processes can generate infinity.
A finite brain can give rise to an infinity of different thoughts (or an indefinite number if death is the end).The paralell point with respect to langauge is that:
A finite number of words
and a finite number of rules of grammer
(at any one point in time)
can generate an infinity of meaningfully different sentances.>How can I understand the meaning of life if I don't know what a kumquat is?
Maybe kumquats aren't the meaning of life ;-)
I dunno what a kumquat is either. I think it is a kind of fruit or vegetable or something...
The meaning of life...
One theory is...
There is no such thing as *the* meaning of life.
The idea that life has a single meaning or purpose is typically tied to the notion that there is an external agency who confers the meaning or purpose upon it (aka god).
Science tells us that the purpose of life... Is survival and reproduction. But then... Even if that is the 'purpose' of life, that doesn't seem to be the 'meaning' of life.
What is meaning?
People find a variety of things meaningful...
Maybe life just is about the process...
Of finding out what things one finds meaningful / worthwhile.
And if we do that well...
Then near the end we can reflect and say:
'I lived a meaningful life'.
A meaning-filled life.
A life filled with meaning.Meaning...
Is a property of minds.
Minds seek meaning
'I am an active information processer'
We seek meaning involountarily
We try to make sense of things...It doesn't have to led to existential despair...
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2005, at 19:02:50
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » alexandra_k, posted by Toph on November 20, 2005, at 17:29:10
Toph I think a kumquat is a type of fruit. What is it with all of you? Are you all smoking weed? I myself did it once well twice. The first time it didn't do anything to me. The second time I tingled all over and it lasted a full twentyfour hours. The guy I was with I didn't even like but I felt like jumping into bed with him but I thought to myself "Hey I don't even like this guy". What a pity the sex would have been great. Hope I'm not breaking any laws by revealing this. So Rainy it's common. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Toph on November 20, 2005, at 19:46:50
In reply to Re: wanna know something? » Toph, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2005, at 19:02:50
I did a fair bit of pot smoking when I was a young lad but either I got too old or weed got too strong to keep it up. Now I have an occasional toke with a friend for grins. I especially like to ski high. It's a total rush. And as you mentioned sex is really fun high.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2005, at 21:40:31
In reply to Re: something » Phillipa, posted by Toph on November 20, 2005, at 19:46:50
Toph, you're a guy? I always thought you were a girl. Where do you ski? And where are you from. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by alexandra_k on November 21, 2005, at 0:01:47
In reply to Re: poke...poke, posted by wildcard on November 19, 2005, at 8:46:29
;-)
Posted by alexandra_k on November 21, 2005, at 0:02:57
In reply to Re: something » Phillipa, posted by Toph on November 20, 2005, at 19:46:50
I've never been sking before, i don't even know how to spell it lol.
been knee boarding though and that was fun, but i bet flying through the air is pretty cool :-)
Posted by Toph on November 21, 2005, at 10:13:15
In reply to Re: something » Toph, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2005, at 21:40:31
> Toph, you're a guy? I always thought you were a girl. Where do you ski? And where are you from.
Just try to take the remote from me Phillipa. I'm from Chicago. My son goes to CU-Boulder so I ski Breakenridge/Vail/Copper/Keystone when I visit. We're all going to visit my daughter who goes to the University of Barcelona this Christmas. We planned 3 days of skiing in the Pyrenees which should be a riot.
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2005, at 11:13:44
In reply to Re: something » Phillipa, posted by Toph on November 21, 2005, at 10:13:15
What does it stand for do you have a first name one you're not afraid to post. Another Babbler older than 20 nice to have you around. You can Babblemail me anytime and introduce yourself I'll do the same. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Toph on November 21, 2005, at 12:31:38
In reply to Re: something » Toph, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2005, at 11:13:44
Toph is short for Topher which is what my brother calls me. It's also short for Christopher, my name. I've been babbling for a very long time but Babbling for about a year and a half. I was pretty heavily involved making friends and fighting with Bob about a year ago. Now I mostly pick and choose my spots. The group of most active posters here changes eventually and is hard to keep up with if you only peruse sporatically. BTW, that other Babbler to which you refered owes me a lot of money so their opinion can't be trusted.
Posted by wildcard on November 21, 2005, at 14:03:47
In reply to Re: poke...poke » wildcard, posted by alexandra_k on November 21, 2005, at 0:01:47
This is the end of the thread.
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