I don't know what THE TRUTH is, but I sure know I can't handle it.

Slightly more seriously, I get a little weary when I see THE TRUTH in all caps. Like it is a thing. And usually, shortly afterwards, someone wants to sell me something so I can get my piece of THE TRUTH.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009
All moderation in purple

To me, that is not a useful philosophy. If everyone's reality is a different, subjective thing, that can only be understood by direct experience, then I have no hope of ever understanding what you are experiencing, of what YOUR TRUTH is.

So, for example, if you say Big Foot exists, because of some subjective reality you've experienced, and I have not experienced that reality, then we can never reach any kind of mutual understanding about whether Big Foot exists, or anything about the nature of Big Foot. You peer into your navel, I'll peer into mine, but we'll never see the same view.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009
All moderation in purple

I'm the same, but at least I know where it is.

Apparently, it can be found "out there".

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I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, was in no way fair comment and was motivated purely by malice. I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

"The truth may be out there but the lies are inside your head."

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‘To those who regard “crime fiction” as some sacred icon which must follow a rigid formula, I will always be the man who writes 18-syllable haiku.’Trying to make sense of computers, The Error Log.

You're right, that was in Japanese, not Chinese. I was reading it in a book and the next fact was about China, so I probably mixed them up. Silly me.

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I want to go back to the moon.
I don't care which rocket you use, whichever one you pick, I'll like it, I swear.
"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek

Thinking about "Truth" I remember a thread on JREF, about the number of dodgy organisations with that word in their title, although I can't remember anything much about list. There is "Truth in Genesis", creationist organisation/website, for example; Truth?? does that mean they think that are some lies in there too...hmm

Then there is the "Ministry of Truth", in George Orwell's "1984"

Frog March,

Like "Open Minded", "Truth" is one of those powerful words that have impact.

Many many people cite their belief as Truth- simply to use that word as persuasion.

I'm reminded of an (Groan! Oh NO! Don't go there Neverfly) episode of Star Trek : Enterprise in which the Enterprise crew, while in the 'Expanse" are hijacked by a race of beings that consider the spheres "Holy" and worship the "Makers" of the Spheres.
The leader of that group, used the word "truth" almost as a weapon.
Say what yall will about ST:E, but that was a profound episode.

yeah, truth is a funny thing, but I think that somepeople mistake the word "truth" for the thing itself.


I went and did a search for the JREF thread, and here it is
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=41519

"Truth" is a fact/statement that remains constant/unchanged and agreed on by all observers past, present and future. As we can't determine the future then what remains "true" at present is the best we can hope for.

"I was born and one day in the future I shall die"

thats about the most truthful statement i can think of that everyone can agree on.

anybody else??

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ooops..... wrong forum!!!