Does a topic really exist if nobody's read it?

Post by **jtaylor** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:26 pm

Just a philosophical one for a Friday.

Euterpe13 · Post by **Euterpe13** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:50 pm

how very Zen ....

" if a tree falls in the forest and no-one hears it, does it make a sound?"

or my favourite

" if a monk crouches behind a wall, and so cannot be seen, is he really there ?"

Great Plum · Post by **Great Plum** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:37 pm

well a topic surely is one that has to be discused - if it's not read, it can't be a topic can it?

Hannoir · Post by **Hannoir** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:46 pm

if it has been viewed then yes.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:15 pm

What's the sound of one hand clapping?

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:18 am

Assuming that the topic has not created itself, then surely it has been read, if only by its creator?

Katharine · Post by **Katharine** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:51 pm

Richard Ruck wrote:Assuming that the topic has not created itself, then surely it has been read, if only by its creator?

But the question is does it exist? If it is just in the mind of the instigatoe does that count as existing?

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 4:50 pm

But a thought is not a topic.

It is not a topic, at least in the forum sense of the word, unless it has actually been posted on here.

Therefore, even if nobody else reads it, the very fact that it has been created by someone must surely mean that it exists, even if the rest of the human race is blissfully unaware of the fact.

Vonny · Post by **Vonny** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:20 pm

Richard Ruck wrote:Therefore, even if nobody else reads it, the very fact that it has been created by someone must surely mean that it exists, even if the rest of the human race is blissfully unaware of the fact.

Seconded

huntertitus · Post by **huntertitus** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:40 pm

BTaylor · Post by **BTaylor** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:49 pm

huntertitus · Post by **huntertitus** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:57 pm

Ommm...

Great Plum · Post by **Great Plum** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:20 pm

wibble

huntertitus · Post by **huntertitus** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:58 pm

wobble

sejintenej · Post by **sejintenej** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:43 pm

Richard Ruck wrote:But a thought is not a topic.

Therefore, even if nobody else reads it, the very fact that it has been created by someone must surely mean that it exists, even if the rest of the human race is blissfully unaware of the fact.

Doesn't Schrodinger's Cat (sp?) have something to miaou (sp) about on this subject: if the subject is read then the perception of it changes so it is no longer the original subject..

After a bottle of best 50 pence Occitan red I'm not going to check with the dictionary