Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
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No more than an oversimplification does.

different point, but the reason I quoted the Phaedo is that the causal explanation of function is the most important, or essential, part of the explanation. In simpler terms, the physical explanation is the "how," the function (as I'm using the word) is the "why." In other words, I'm contending that the killing function isn't just part of a complex explanation of the gun's many functions that may be dropped out via oversimplification, but the essential part without which you're not really talking about a gun anymore.

Besides that quote isn't applicable to a _thing_. It is applicable to a _being_. To carry the analogy, you'd be talking about banning larynxes because some people shouted hateful phrases with them.

The analogy only carries if larynxes are designed to shout hateful phrases, and that all other uses of said larynx are merely derivations of that original design.

...Then again, evolutionarily speaking, I wouldn't be surprised if the first function of the larynx was to scare away predators...

...Hey!, that's something, evolution. Have we got any creationists in the house?

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by volcanopele
Well I believe in the chaos theory. The high number of replies in this thread is largely due to a mosquito biting a young child in Burkino Faso last year.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
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"Well I believe in the chaos theory. The high number of replies in this thread is largely due to a mosquito biting a young child in Burkino Faso last year. "

Actually this thread is happening because 17 years ago I asked my C.O. his permission to speak freely.

(It's ALL about ME!)

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Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:

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Originally posted by srwdc1
well done toby, you managed to cite both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in one post!

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quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn


...Hey!, that's something, evolution. Have we got any creationists in the house?

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

quote:

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Originally posted by BobbyMike
"Well I believe in the chaos theory. The high number of replies in this thread is largely due to a mosquito biting a young child in Burkino Faso last year. "

Actually this thread is happening because 17 years ago I asked my C.O. his permission to speak freely.

(It's ALL about ME!)

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quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn
different point, but the reason I quoted the Phaedo is that the causal explanation of function is the most important, or essential, part of the explanation.

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by Yorick
okay, I got the LOTR ref but I thought the other thing was about the Scottish Play.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

quote:

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Originally posted by Toby, but quoted out of order because I feel like it
And I'm contending that if the killing function isn't used or really even there

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and I'm contending that it is...

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To some dead Greek philosopher. Why should I take the opinions of that Dead White Guy anymore seriously than any other?

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You shouldn't. I was using it implicitly to forward a system of beliefs backing my claim that there are certain tools whose identity as tools are bound up with their function, and that guns are just those tools. I don't think we're going to get anywhere on this one.

Whump<----(the sound of me dropping it.)

quote:

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No, we can only assume that the primary function was to attract one's mother to entice her into sex.

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Well, obviously. sheesh, we all know that one.

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Allah's peace be with you.

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no thanks, I'll take somebody else's peace. ...on second thought, we should just leave that topic alone...thanks for the peace.

quote:

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edit: fixed a formatting bug

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Sure. Really what happened is you broke down and agreed with me, then changed your mind when you discovered that I'm actually a supercomputer based on Herbert Hoover's brain and hell-bent on taking your guns away from you.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
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quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn

Sure. Really what happened is you broke down and agreed with me, then changed your mind when you discovered that I'm actually a supercomputer based on Herbert Hoover's brain and hell-bent on taking your guns away from you.

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Wasn't Herbert Hoover a Republican and therefore wanted to allow people to protect themselves. Plus, he wanted people to support themselves and help themselves. That's why he lost the 1932 election. However, you might be based on Janet Reno's brain. That I would believe

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quote:

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Originally posted by volcanopele
Wasn't Herbert Hoover a Republican and therefore wanted to allow people to protect themselves. Plus, he wanted people to support themselves and help themselves. That's why he lost the 1932 election. However, you might be based on Janet Reno's brain. That I would believe

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quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn

oh yeah, sure, but all that was a front. Hoover was really a communist at heart.

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Registered: Dec 1999
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"He never told you to stop speaking freely ?!? Wow, why didn't you start this when you were still in the military. That is an obvious mandate to speak your mind when ever you darn well feel like it."


No, I proceeded to call him an a**hole and he stopped speaking to me. He never rescinded that permission to speak freely, but it only applied to when I talked to him anyway.

Also when I was in the military Reagan was the President and I had an Atari 520ST w/o a modem. I also had a M16, a S&W 686 .357, a G.I. .45, a Remington 12 Gauge (riot control) and a much shorter fuse.

By Regulation I wasn't allowed to converse with people like youse guys anyway.

Now I am a free humanoid and I love everybody!

Gimme a hug!

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Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:

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Originally posted by volcanopele
Hoover wasn't a communist. You are thinking of Roosevelt.

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quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn

Nope. Hoover was most definitely a communist. He just pretended to persecute the red menace when in reality he went home, slipped on a pair of pantyhose, and dreamt of the day when the proletariat would rise up and make institutions like the CIA melt away into brotherly comradeship--much in the way that the KGB did in the USSR.

And Roosevelt was a fascist. New Deal? More like secret plot to create an anti-socialist state under the rule of his iron fist.

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What are the odds George Washington would win an election today? What are the odds he would want to lead a nation of children who cry to the government for everything from food and shelter to protection from the boogie man?

I pledge allegience to the flag of the Unequivocal Socialist America...

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Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:

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Originally posted by volcanopele
Ok, I see. You are confusing Herbert Hoover, president from 1929 to 1933, and J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI for 40 years.

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quote:

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Originally posted by dick-richardson
What are the odds George Washington would win an election today? What are the odds he would want to lead a nation of children who cry to the government for everything from food and shelter to protection from the boogie man?

I pledge allegience to the flag of the Unequivocal Socialist America...

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beh... socialism ain't so bad, works very well for all them nordic folk.

Washington? He was a successful general and commanded the presence of any room he entered. He would have a solid chance---expect that he railed against the two party system and didn't believe that it would be good for America, so he would probably lose because he wouldn't have a money-machine behind him. then again, if we had some real campaign finance laws, he'd be in like Flynt (or is it just Flynn.. I can never remember)

...and this political post is serious, unlike my previeous few (paying attention Volcano? )

...and now that I'm being serious---anybody who calls Roosevelt a dictator and isn't being wildly hilarious (as I am ) needs a swift kick to the head.

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quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn
and I'm contending that it is...

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn
Nope. Hoover was most definitely a communist. He just pretended to persecute the red menace when in reality he went home, slipped on a pair of pantyhose, and dreamt of the day when the proletariat would rise up and make institutions like the CIA melt away into brotherly comradeship--much in the way that the KGB did in the USSR.

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