Author Topic: The Ultimate Question (Read 10698 times)

a-4-year-old · « **Reply #60 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:00:54 pm »

the definition of finger includes the thumb. Everything else is irrelevant.

jerich · « **Reply #61 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:54:06 pm »

The thumb is not a finger

That's how I felt before I read this...
and that's how I still think.

Completely agree with Mangled* and Geologist although he's just trying to play devil's advocate.

Espadon · « **Reply #62 on:** January 05, 2009, 04:04:59 pm »

I maintain that biological takes precedence over nominal, so the thumb is merely a modified, opposable finger.

PANZERCATWAGON · « **Reply #63 on:** January 05, 2009, 05:03:31 pm »

guys

i think i have finally worked out the answer to this entire argument

it took me a while to put the pieces together but here is the correct answer

yes it is

thank you very much ladies and gentlemen have a great day

Snake · « **Reply #64 on:** January 05, 2009, 05:19:53 pm »

Quote from: PANZERCATWAGON on January 05, 2009, 05:03:31 pm

yes it is

Yeah thats what I like...nice and short

Mangled* · « **Reply #65 on:** January 05, 2009, 05:30:49 pm »

Saying thumbs are fingers is like saying arms are legs.

Espadon · « **Reply #66 on:** January 05, 2009, 05:38:48 pm »

Arms ARE legs. They're modified legs. What else would they be? We call them arms because human culture didn't start out with a full understanding of science.

By your logic of nomenclature, weaponry-arms should be no different than limb-arms.

Mangled* · « **Reply #67 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:41:17 pm »

They're not the same though are they. Although at some point in time they may have been the same, they are not classified as the same.

If you go to a doctor with a broken thumb, are you going to say you have a broken finger?

Outcast · « **Reply #68 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:44:04 pm »

To how much can you count on the fingers of one hand?

PANZERCATWAGON · « **Reply #69 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:52:52 pm »

a thumb is a finger and i like bold

Espadon · « **Reply #70 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:08:42 pm »

No, Mangled, what's your definition of a finger? Is it any digit of the hand or is it what we call the majority type of digits present on the hands? Biologically speaking, finger is completely synonymous with digit, so the finger is a superset of thumb, index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers. If you're saying a finger is a type of digit represented by the most common configuration [any digit in opposition to the thumb], then, yes, of course a thumb isn't a 'finger.'

It boils down to whether you want the 'absolute' definition or the 'democratic' definition. Considering you're a hardline atheist, I'm surprised you're not taking the absolute scientific definition.

LtKillroy · « **Reply #71 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:21:01 pm »

There are many retarded people out there, and many more smart people with retarded moments. Ignore them, and the thumb is a finger.

*edit*
Like rectangles and squares, every thumb is a finger, but not every finger is a thumb.

Espadon · « **Reply #72 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:27:36 pm »

Like that time some people swore that an airplane on a treadmill couldn't take off ffs.

LeetFidle · « **Reply #73 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:36:02 pm »

This thread proves evolution is true.

Espadon · « **Reply #74 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:43:01 pm »

Killroy does have a good analogy; a rectangle is not a square, but a square is rectangle from a mathematical perspective. Yet nominally, a square is still not a rectangle.

The Geologist · « **Reply #75 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:44:08 pm »

This is now an evolution thread.

Go!

Smegma · « **Reply #76 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:44:56 pm »

Quote from: Espadon on January 05, 2009, 08:43:01 pm

Killroy does have a good analogy; a rectangle is not a square, but a square is rectangle from a mathematical perspective. Yet nominally, a square is still not a rectangle.

That depends on how you view language.

LeetFidle · « **Reply #77 on:** January 05, 2009, 08:47:14 pm »

Quote from: The Geologist on January 05, 2009, 08:44:08 pm

This is now an evolution thread.

Go!

Not what i was trying to say...

Demonic · « **Reply #78 on:** January 05, 2009, 09:40:52 pm »

Quote from: The Geologist on January 05, 2009, 08:44:08 pm

This is now an evolution thread.

Go!

I counter that with the Atheist's Nightmare Banana+5!

Devils advocate or not, the general meaning of the word finger would imply that your thumb is one aswell. If for nothing else, than the sake of simplicity, and that the phrase "I have 18 fingers and 2 thumbs" sounds incredibly dumb. Interesting topic though, wonder what would come out of it if I throw it up when everyone's over their fourth beer.

The Geologist · « **Reply #79 on:** January 05, 2009, 09:43:20 pm »

Dude, we would have to hash things out. Of course.

Probably better since the odds are people would be without a laptop for handy web definitions...

The link? Hilarious. It has it's flaws, but on the whole very entertaining.

News:

Poll

Is a thumb a finger?

Author Topic: The Ultimate Question (Read 10698 times)