Does a leaf know fear? - pipTalk Forums

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matronmedusa
Member

since 2008-03-08

Posts 89
Alabama, USA

0 posted 2008-03-11 10:46 AM

When a leaf trembles; is it the wind that causes it to move?

Or does the leaf allow the wind to move it?

oceanvu2
Senior Member

since 2007-02-24

Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

1 posted 2008-03-11 01:39 PM

"When a leaf trembles; is it the wind that causes it to move?"

Only if the wind is blowing.

"Or does the leaf allow the wind to move it?"

The wind isn't willful and leaves have no choice. Or, the leaves aren't willful and wind has no choice.

Best, Jimbeaux

Huan Yi
Member Ascendant

since 2004-10-12

Posts 6688
Waukegan

2 posted 2008-03-11 02:07 PM

.

Pathetic fallacy

.

oceanvu2
Senior Member

since 2007-02-24

Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

3 posted 2008-03-11 03:01 PM

Which fallacy, John?  Are you suggesting that wind is purposeful or leaves make choices, or both?

And why "pathetic?"  "Pathetic" seems like an overly charged word.  "Illogical" doesn't seem to fit, either.  I might buy into "Naive" or "Irrelevant" if you wanted to back your notion up.

Or, were you referring to the initial post?  Sometimes it's hard to tell from two words.

Best, Jimbeaux

Ron

Administrator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-05-19

Posts 8669
Michigan, US

4 posted 2008-03-11 03:43 PM

LOL. Sometimes, Jim, two words should actually be interpreted as a single concept. I believe pathetic fallacy is one such instance?

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

5 posted 2008-03-11 03:48 PM

oooooooooooooooh....

Thanks Ron! (and John)

(I think I can use that!)

*chuckling*

oceanvu2
Senior Member

since 2007-02-24

Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

6 posted 2008-03-11 04:02 PM

Hi Ron: Thanks for a friendly comment! I still don't get the gist of John's post. Karen seems to, so maybe it's just me. (It usually is.)

Any one feel like explaining any of this to my doltish self?

Best, Jimbeaux

PS: I'm signing myself as "Jimbeaux" to avoid confusion with Jim Boulder, who had the "Jim" tag sewn up long before I came around. Jim

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

7 posted 2008-03-11 04:10 PM

I don't necessarily understand it.

I just said I can use it.

(Somebody told me to be a leaf once.)

I discovered I could indeed "be the leaf"--but I couldn't write while I was a leaf.

*grins*

Grinch
Member Elite

since 2005-12-31

Posts 2929
Whoville

8 posted 2008-03-11 04:17 PM

Jim,

The pathetic fallacy is also known as the anthropomorphic fallacy - it describes the error of attributing inanimate objects with human feelings.

You could argue though that the fallacy isn’t actually applicable in this particular case as fear isn’t exclusively a human trait and plants aren’t actually inanimate.

oceanvu2
Senior Member

since 2007-02-24

Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

9 posted 2008-03-11 04:29 PM

Thanks Grinch!  I truly wasn't aware of the "pathetic fallacy" being a thing in itself.  John's comment now makes sense.

I'll buy that leaves, while while growing and maintaining, not dead, are "animate."  "Wind" is an entity of a different sort.

The anthropomorphic business does seem to be a pathetic fallacy.

Ron:  In my blurry eyed doltishnish, I missed that you typed "pathetic fallacy" as a link.  Clicked it, and it was a great explanation. I can see why you were laughing out loud!  Maybe I'll change my tag to Dumbeaux!

Best, Jimbeaux

TomMark
Member Elite

since 2007-07-27

Posts 2133
LA,CA

10 posted 2008-03-11 04:35 PM

quote:
Any one feel like explaining any of this to my doltish self?

Tr.Sherman drops tears
on my grave
In nonchalance

Ha,ha,ha, Ron is always on the wrong side.

oceanvu2
Senior Member

since 2007-02-24

Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

11 posted 2008-03-11 04:58 PM

Hi John: Your awareness of the "pathetic fallacy" seems to be well reflected in your poetry, which I very much admire and seems to talk about things as they are.

TomMark: Wah? Is your poetic post a bit of inscrutability, or am I just missing the point again? What is Ron always on the wrong side of?

Dumbeaux

TomMark
Member Elite

since 2007-07-27

Posts 2133
LA,CA

12 posted 2008-03-11 05:13 PM

ignore the title of the thread. The real question was on physics.

If one takes in the title and says that the question is Pathetic fallacy. Still tree does it better right? and must bear different term.

Sherman is one of the tallest Redwood.

Ps I was just teasing Ron's LOL to LOLer

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