Can we make statements about something other than language in your view? — Terrapin Station
And would you say that you never use "correct" prescriptively? — Terrapin Station
He assumed.... — Magnus Anderson
Saying that something is correct or incorrect is not a prescriptive statement, it is a descriptive one. If you say that "The sky is red" and I say "That's not correct" that is not the same kind of statement as "You should adopt the view that sky is blue" or "People should have true beliefs". Of course, I'd rather be surrounded by people whose beliefs are true . . . if that's one of the things you're asking me. — Magnus Anderson
You said your definition was "the correct meaning of the word chair". You repeated this in your follow up reply to me.
As I'm sure you're aware, there's an important distinction to be made between "the correct meaning" and "a correct meaning". — ChrisH
"Correct" has a prescriptive connotation. Because people would rather be surrounded by folks whose beliefs are true as you say. — Terrapin Station
Let's say I expressed myself in a way that wasn't the best. — Magnus Anderson
I thought that might be the case but I wasn't sure. My initial response to you gave you the opportunity to correct your mistake but for some reason you decided to go defensive. — ChrisH
If they're not trying to match the convention, then telling them that they're not matching the convention is irrelevant, right? And they're certainly not saying something not true, because they weren't trying to match the convention. — Terrapin Station
The mistakes they make might stem from their lack of regard for conventions. — Magnus Anderson
You're saying that even if they're not trying to match the convention, they could be making a mistake? — Terrapin Station
I am saying that their lack of regard for conventions can lead them to making mistakes of all sorts. — Magnus Anderson
Sure you were. (Being defensive) — DingoJones
I think you're mistaken.
Any good dictionary (essentially a record of existing usages) will give at least 6 different meanings. — ChrisH
That's true. Maybe I can correct myself by saying that's one of several correct meanings of the word? — Magnus Anderson
If you're not trying to match the convention, because of a lack of regard for it, how could you make a mistake in word definition/usage? — Terrapin Station
You can form mistaken beliefs. — Magnus Anderson
Maybe you'd like to go back and read my initial response to him: — Magnus Anderson
Your initial response contained no correction and repeated your error. That looks defensive to me. — ChrisH
It was your second post that made your point clear. — Magnus Anderson
I am telling you that it is relevant to criticize their lack of regard for conventions because it makes them blind to reality. — Magnus Anderson
If they're not trying to match the convention, then telling them that they're not matching the convention is irrelevant, right? — Terrapin Station
If I say something like "Cats cannot fly" and you tell me I am wrong merely because you fail to realize that I don't define the word "cat" the way you do -- you define it to mean "dragon" -- then it would be more than relevant to remind you that your use of words is unconventional. — Magnus Anderson
Let's say I expressed myself in a way that wasn't the best. — Magnus Anderson
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