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'If a tree falls in the forest...'

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Nero, Mar 4, 2008.

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  1. Nero

    Nero Member

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    Ok, in order to try to distract anyone else from going into that airplane/conveyor-belt travesty of an undead zombie thread, here's a question/riddle which actually DOES have a right answer:

    'If a tree falls in the forest, and there is no-one/no-thing there to hear it, does it make a sound?'


    Be careful now...
     
    #1 Nero, Mar 4, 2008
  2. Apollo Creed

    Apollo Creed Contributing Member

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    Of course.
     
    #2 Apollo Creed, Mar 4, 2008
  3. Jeremiah

    Jeremiah Member

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    It makes a sound. Of one hand clapping.
     
    #3 Jeremiah, Mar 4, 2008
  4. meggoleggo

    meggoleggo Member

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    Define sound and I'll tell you the answer.
     
    #4 meggoleggo, Mar 4, 2008
  5. GlassHalfFull

    GlassHalfFull Member

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    It depends on what the definition of sound is. The frequency waves are created and will travel. If no receptors are present to receive them, is there sound?
     
    #5 GlassHalfFull, Mar 4, 2008
  6. Nero

    Nero Member

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    You guys are SMART. :)

    Don't ruin it so fast!
     
    #6 Nero, Mar 4, 2008
  7. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

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    :rolleyes: Yes, there IS sound. It goes "THUMP!!!" but no one hears it. What can you tell the ants that tree just crushed? "Oh, I'm sorry, little ant, that wasn't really a tree...! " :rolleyes:

    Someone or something making a sound or a movement or something, and no one being there to witness it doesn't mean it didn't happen... WTF is wrong with you people... who are you, the 'MEXICAN FEDERALES'?!?!?

    If Brian Boitano does a figure eight, but no one sees him, did he really do a figure eight? ;)
     
    #7 SwoLy-D, Mar 4, 2008
  8. Royals Ego

    Royals Ego Member

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    A person farts, but no one smells or hears the fart, did that person fart?
     
    #8 Royals Ego, Mar 4, 2008
  9. Mulder

    Mulder Member

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    I feel better now, so yes, there was definitely a fart. :D
     
    #9 Mulder, Mar 4, 2008
  10. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

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    Ants don't have ears.
     
    #10 MR. MEOWGI, Mar 4, 2008
  11. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

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    I meant the CRUSHING they suffer, you silly goose... :p
     
    #11 SwoLy-D, Mar 4, 2008
  12. meggoleggo

    meggoleggo Member

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    I dunno - why don't you ask him? Unless he's a liar. Then it won't help. :eek:
     
    #12 meggoleggo, Mar 4, 2008
  13. TexasFight

    TexasFight Member

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    By definition - for sound to exist there doesn't have to be a receptor to pick up the vibrations/frequencies that are the source of the sound.

    so yes - the tree makes a sound when it falls over.
     
    #13 TexasFight, Mar 4, 2008
  14. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

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    It doesn't mean they heard it.
     
    #14 MR. MEOWGI, Mar 4, 2008
  15. pchan

    pchan Member

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    I don't know. If you buy the current mainstream interpretation of quantum physics, experiment results depend on how you are conducting the experiments and what you are looking for. So, if there are no observers, maybe things will be different, but we won't know. Anyhow, none of this probably matters in a macroscopic world, so I guess it will still make a sound.
     
    #15 pchan, Mar 4, 2008
  16. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

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    Wrong.

    sound - 1. the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air or other medium.
     
    #16 MR. MEOWGI, Mar 4, 2008
  17. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

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    RE-PITCHED :D :
    <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eEtSIJYyae0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eEtSIJYyae0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
     
    #17 SwoLy-D, Mar 4, 2008
  18. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

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    Another thing, humans have defined what sound is. Sound is a human concept. We know what it refers to (kind of) but it really just a label.
     
    #18 MR. MEOWGI, Mar 4, 2008
  19. meggoleggo

    meggoleggo Member

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    YouTube=blocked at work. I'm hopeless, I know. Unless anyone can recommend a good proxy (not backfox - it doesn't work either) for me.
     
    #19 meggoleggo, Mar 4, 2008
  20. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

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    #20 SwoLy-D, Mar 4, 2008
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